“Nicolas Jackson needs to improve his scoring rate for Chelsea” – Mikel Obi

Photo Credit - Chelsea Football Club.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has urged club striker, Nicolas Jackson to keep up with his performance despite the Blues’ inconsistent output in the English Premier League.

The Senegal forward was a second half substitute, replacing Frenchman, Christopher Nkunku in their goalless draw against Brentford last Sunday.

The 23-year-old spent weeks on the sidelines through injury but his return to the squad is a piece of news that will impact manager Enzo Maresca’s outfit in the remaining games of the season.

Mikel Obi believes Jackson has the qualities to become a complete striker and he must work hard towards achieving that feat.

“He will put defenders in the back foot, he will run and run. He will run behind, he will run into the channels. His touching of the ball is good, he can bring players into play, [and] he can create something out of nothing," Mikel Obi told The Obi One Podcast.

“And he is very physical as well when he chases defenders down and when he plays we are different but obviously he knows what to do to become a complete striker. I hope he continues to improve, I hope he continues to grow as a player because when you watch him play, he wants to do well for the club because he is running, he is chasing and he works his socks off and that is what I want to see and that’s what Chelsea fans want to see.

So to see that and to see him come back from that long injury and to come into the game and perform the way he did with so much energy, with so much aggression, for me that’s fantastic.”

The former Villarreal attacker has scored nine goals in 25 league games with five assists to his credit with Chelsea seated in 4th on the league table on 53 points from 31 matches.