"He's on his way to being the real deal" - Thierry Henry delivers glowing verdict on 23-year-old Chelsea star
Chelsea’s rise this season continues to turn heads, and Nicolas Jackson has emerged as a central figure in their impressive campaign.
Following Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Brentford last week, legendary Premier League striker Thierry Henry heaped praise on the Senegalese forward. He described him as "the real deal" while acknowledging the long road still ahead for the 23-year-old.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Henry highlighted the immense pressure on a striker at a club like Chelsea, where comparisons to past greats — most notably Didier Drogba — are inevitable.
However, the Arsenal icon believes Jackson has all the tools to carve out his path to greatness. He said (via The Chelsea Chronicle):
"He’s on his way to being that [the real deal] but it’s a long road. One thing that is difficult when you play for a club like Chelsea and teams who are at the top is that you get compared to who was there before. And maybe you’re not the same kind of striker, you’re a different striker, but you’re going to get compared to Drogba."
He added:
"I do think that what they’re doing is remarkable and we were saying before the show, I’m not having a go at the Conference League but they’re playing a different team there, they’re really focusing on the league and that is a massive plus."
Jackson’s performance against Brentford was yet another showcase of his growing importance to Enzo Maresca’s side. Marc Cucurella (43') and Jackson (80') found the back of the net, helping the second-placed Blues seal their 10th win in 16 league games.
Leading the line with authority, Jackson has already notched nine goals and three assists this season, proving to be Chelsea’s key attacking force in the league.
While comparisons to Drogba may seem premature, it’s easy to see why Jackson is drawing such acclaim. His physicality, sharp movement, and ability to score in crucial moments have Chelsea fans reminiscing about their legendary No. 11.
Nkunku fighting for minutes even as Chelsea aim to topple Liverpool as league leaders
Jackson’s meteoric rise has not only impressed pundits like Henry but has also left Christopher Nkunku fighting for minutes. The French international has so far garnered 903 minutes of play.
Despite Nkunku being the Blues' top scorer (12) across all competitions this season, Jackson’s consistent league form has made him the undisputed talisman for Maresca’s resurgent side.
Few expected the west London side to be genuine title contenders this season, but their sharp turnaround has been impossible to ignore.
After finishing well outside the European spots last term, the Blues now find themselves second in the Premier League table, trailing only Liverpool by two points.
While Maresca remains cautious about talk of a title challenge, the Blues have a golden opportunity to momentarily top the table if they can secure victory against Everton on December 22.