Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Nicolas Jackson could be sidelined for between “six to eight weeks” due to a muscular injury.
Nicolas Jackson was substituted early in the second half during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over West Ham in early February.
Speaking on Thursday, Maresca revealed that the 23-year-old will miss action until after next month’s international break.
“Nico will be out until the international break and probably available after the international break,” he said.
“We knew it was a muscular problem but we didn’t know how important it was because of his reaction.
“We all thought it was not a big injury, but unfortunately, he had a scan and it will be around six to eight weeks.”
Maresca also confirmed that fellow striker Marc Guiu is set to be sidelined for an extended period due to a similar hamstring injury.
However, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are edging closer to a return to full fitness, while Wesley Fofana has rejoined the group.
Fofana, though, will need “two or three weeks” before being available for selection.
Maresca also dismissed rumors of a further injury setback for Reece James, confirming that the full-back will be available for selection despite missing Chelsea’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Despite the injuries in attacking areas, Maresca remains confident that he will find a solution within his current squad.
Christopher Nkunku stepped in as a striker during the FA Cup defeat to Brighton, filling the void left by both Jackson and Guiu.
However, according to Maresca, the French forward is not his only option in that position.
“Christopher [Nkunku] could be one of the solutions but not the only solution,” he said.
“I said since day one that Christopher is not a No9. Christopher is an attacking midfielder. But we use him as a No 9 to find a solution with all of them. But we know very well that Christopher is not a proper No 9.
“We are going to try and find different solutions. I have always said that I have considered Christo an important player since the start but the problem is they think they are important just if they play, if they don’t they don’t think they are important. Now also with the window closed everyone is here and he can try to help us until the end.
“[Playing a wide player as a false No 9] could be a solution, for sure Pero [Neto] or Noni [Madueke] or even Tyrique [George] can try and can be a solution for us. Jadon [Sancho] with a different kind of skills.
“But it’s not just about the No9. When you don’t have a proper No9, yes you have to use a different type of No9 but also you have to change a little bit the way you have to play.
“Maybe you need to be more direct and probably you need more linking because you don’t have a threat in behind, but we will find a solution.”
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