Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hopes Nicolas Jackson can be fit for their next Premier League match after missing their FA Cup fourth round tie with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Senegal international was forced off with a hamstring issue during their win over West Ham United on Monday. The injury forced him to sit out of the cup encounter with the Seagulls but there is a hope from the Blues boss that he will be fit to play in their next top-flight match – against Brighton next Friday.
Jackson has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 23 league appearances this term, but has been forced to wait for his first goal this year after last finding the back of the net in the 2-1 win over Brentford in December.
Saturday’s trip to the coast allowed for a first start for Christopher Nkunku since their third round win over Morecambe last month.
“As I said a few days ago, it’s not a big injury,” said Maresca. “He needs some days off and hopefully for the next game, he can be available.”
In his pre-match press conference, he revealed that the issue isn’t too severe after Marc Guiu looks set to be sidelined for an extended period. The Italian said: “Nico is better. He could [play this weekend] but it could be a risk but we’ll see. It doesn’t look like a long injury.”
Chelsea face a busy period in February and March after their return to the AMEX Stadium next week. They travel to Aston Villa then have back-to-back home matches against Southampton and Leicester, before visiting the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the final match before the March international break.
