Nicolas Jackson could sink or swim after massive change at Chelsea puts the pressure on | OneFootball

It’s the 15th day in June – time to check out how our number 15 is getting on this month.

Nicolas Jackson has had quite the up and down time in his two years at Chelsea. We can rarely remember a player who is so divisive and confusing – even we’ve gone back and forth several time in our thoughts on him.

Jackson needs to follow dogy spell with calm and consistency

This is a massively important spell for him. After a brilliant start to last season saw him named among the best strikers in the league, and had us thinking he had really moved on, the second half of the campaign was a disaster.

He had a horrible goal drought, then an injury, then capped it all off with a red card which saw him banned for the crucial games which decided our Champions League fate. He had a lot of credit in the bank, but really spent it quickly.

He needs to show mental maturity and calm in front of goal to show he’s really a better player than the one that arrived so raw but talented in 2023.

Delap provides essential competition for hot and cold Jackson

Liam Delap signs for Chelsea

He’s the number 15, but has been our undisputed number 9 for the last two years. Now things have changed. Liam Delap has been signed and taken the actual 9 shirt. That is symbolic of the challenge Jackson faces.

Will that make him step up and delivery consistently? Or will he be pushed out of the team and struggle to get back in? It’s impossible to know, but what is certain is that these Club World Cup games are hugely important for the Senegal star, and he must show Enzo Maresca and Delap that he’s still first choice.

If the new guy starts hot, we could be in for a spicy battle.