Chelsea's striker crisis deepens as Nicolas Jackson sidelined

The Blues, who have struggled for consistency this season, will be without their key striker until after the March international break, with Maresca refusing to confirm Christopher Nkunku as a direct replacement.

Jackson picked up a muscular injury during Chelsea's last Premier League outing against West Ham United, where he battled through despite visible discomfort. The Senegalese forward missed the Blues' FA Cup defeat to Brighton five days later, and scans have since revealed the extent of the damage.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Premier League rematch with Brighton, Maresca confirmed the timeline for Jackson's absence.

"Nico will be out until the international break, probably available after the international break," Maresca said in a press conference. "We knew it was a muscular problem, but not how important it was. His reaction was good, so we didn't think it was a big injury.

"Unfortunately, he had the scan, and it is an important one – he will be out for six to eight weeks."

The injury adds to Chelsea's growing list of absentees. Maresca revealed that young striker Marc Guiu is also sidelined for an unspecified period, while Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are working their way back to fitness. Wesley Fofana, meanwhile, needs two to three weeks to be fully fit.

The Blues' injury woes have left Maresca with limited options up top, and he has been forced to get creative.

When asked if Nkunku would step in for Jackson, Maresca was cautious, emphasising that the Frenchman is not a traditional striker. "Christo is a solution, but not the only solution," he said. "I said many times I consider Christo a very important player from the start.

"Now, with the transfer window closed, everyone is here, and he can help us until the end. We are working to find a different solution. It can be Christo, but also a different kind of player."

Maresca has repeatedly stressed that Nkunku's best position is not as a number nine. "I said since day one that Christo is not a nine; he is an attacking midfielder," he said. "We know very well that Christo is not a nine. They (Nkunku and Jackson) are different on the ball and off the ball." However, this stance appears to contradict comments Maresca made in September, when he suggested Nkunku could play as a number nine and serve as Jackson's backup. "As a number nine, we have Nicolas, Christo, and Marc," he had said. "Christo can play as a number nine or as an attacking midfielder and a winger."

The absence of Jackson has highlighted his importance to Chelsea's system. "Sometimes we complain about players, but then when they don't play, you realise how important they are," Maresca said. "He didn't play against Brighton, and then everyone was thinking it is difficult to play without a nine. We know exactly how good Nico is on and off the ball. Christo is completely different on and off the ball."

With no natural replacement for Jackson, Maresca has hinted at experimenting with wide players in central roles. Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrique George have all been mentioned as potential options. "Could be a solution," Maresca said. "Pedro, Noni, or even Tyrique, they can try and be a solution for us. Jadon has different kinds of skills. When you don't have a proper nine, you need to use a different kind of nine, but you need to change the way you play. We will find a solution."

Chelsea's attacking depth has been tested this season, with Maresca previously outlining the squad's structure. "As left wingers, we have Jadon and Misha (Mudryk)," he had said in September. "As right wingers, we have Noni and Pedro. As attacking midfielders, we have Joao Felix and Cole (Palmer)." However, injuries and inconsistent form have disrupted the Blues' plans, and Maresca now faces the task of adapting his tactics to compensate for Jackson's absence.

Chelsea fans on X have been vocal about the team's striker crisis, with many calling for Nkunku to be given a chance as a central striker despite Maresca's reservations. Some supporters have suggested that the Blues' reliance on Jackson highlights a lack of depth in the squad, while others are optimistic that the likes of Neto and Madueke could step up. One post read, "Jackson's injury is a blow, but it's time for Nkunku to shine, Maresca needs to trust him!"