A first hat-trick of his career could give Nicolas Jackson lift-off at Chelsea.
The £32million summer signing was the match-winner as the Blues secured victory against nine-man Tottenham on Monday night.
His treble sealed a 4-1 win that will live long in the memory for Chelsea fans, and should do his confidence wonders after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge.
“I have been dreaming of this since I was young — and I made it come true,” Jackson said after the match. “I’m very happy.”
Yet, despite running riot, the game highlighted why there are still major questions marks over the 22-year-old Senegal striker. Jackson missed a sitter at 1-1 and does not look convincing in front of goal.
His performance summed up Chelsea’s night.
Like the team, he started nervously in the opening 15 minutes, when the Blues were outplayed by the hosts and went a goal down.
He then grew into the game and, after Cristian Romero was sent off, had a goal correctly disallowed for offside.
It was one of many offside calls against Jackson, who exuded nervous energy against Ange Postecoglou’s high defensive line.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino told his players to “kill” Spurs at half-time, and told Jackson that his pace would be key because of the space he had to run in behind.
But initially, when chances came, he continued to look anxious in front of goal.
Jackson missed a one-on-one and a close-range header before he eventually turned home a cross from Raheem Sterling to put Chelsea 2-1 up in the 75th minute.
In truth, Sterling put the chance on a plate and was devastating all night.
Equally, the returning Reece James took on the mantle of creator-in-chief and was immediately taken off after the third goal to protect him after his recent hamstring problems.
Jackson was named man-of-the-match and Chelsea will hope the confidence he gains will be a springboard, with Manchester City visiting Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Jackson showed last season at Villarreal that he can be a streaky player, when he scored eight goals in eight games at the end of the season which earned him his big transfer.
But his up-and-down night showed why there are still doubts over whether he is the top-level goalscorer Chelsea need to lead their attack. His expected goals (xG) last night was 3.37, and none of his three finishes were particularly difficult.
Chelsea will turn to the transfer market again, and could look to bring in someone in January, which would put his place in the team under threat.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said: “I am happy for him, because we know that when strikers don’t score, they suffer. So that is for people to think.
“He is really young, arrived to the club this summer, and it’s not easy to play for Chelsea. It’s the history, about winning, lifting trophies.
“That’s why, as a coaching staff, we need to provide the tools and be calm with the way we assess things. The confidence is there and I am so happy for him, because he deserves the boost.”
