Chelsea fans have reason to celebrate as star striker Nicolas Jackson is set to return from injury just in time for their crucial London derby against Tottenham on April 3. The Senegalese forward has been sidelined since early February after suffering a hamstring injury in the Blues’ 2-1 victory over West Ham. His absence has been deeply felt, with Chelsea struggling for goals and consistency in recent months.
Jackson’s return comes as a major boost for Enzo Maresca, whose squad has been plagued by injuries. The Italian manager has seen key attacking players such as Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu, and Omari Kellyman sidelined, while Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended due to a positive drugs test. Jadon Sancho, signed on loan to bolster Chelsea’s attack, has failed to make an impact and has not scored for the club since December.
Chelsea confirmed Jackson’s return to training on Wednesday, with the striker resuming work on the grass. The club had initially hoped for a shorter recovery time, but further scans revealed the injury was more severe than expected. Now, with Jackson back in training, Maresca is hopeful he will be fit to start against Tottenham.
Since Jackson’s injury, Chelsea have endured a mixed run of form, winning four and losing three of their seven league matches. The lack of attacking fluency has been evident, with Palmer who had been Chelsea’s standout performer in the first half of the season struggling for consistency.
Palmer, Chelsea’s top scorer with 14 league goals, has failed to register an assist in 2025 and has scored just twice since the turn of the year. His shot conversion rate has dropped significantly from 17.65% to just 5.88%, and he even missed a penalty against Leicester City earlier in March. Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson, however, has backed the young playmaker to bounce back, insisting that dips in form are natural for any player.
“You don’t become a bad player overnight, and everyone has dips in form,” Johnson said. “To be fair to him, he’s carried Chelsea on his shoulders almost on his own. It would be a shame to point fingers at him now because he’s not quite at the same level as before. But he’ll bounce back.”
A Crucial Run-In for Chelsea
Despite their struggles, Chelsea remain in fourth place in the Premier League and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League. Their upcoming clash with Tottenham is crucial, as it will determine whether they can solidify their top-four spot and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
With Jackson’s return, Maresca will hope his side regains some attacking firepower. The 22-year-old has been one of Chelsea’s most effective forwards this season, contributing nine goals and five assists in the league. His presence should provide a much-needed lift to the squad and ease some of the burden on Palmer.
As Chelsea prepare for the final stretch of the season, Maresca will be relieved to have key players returning. The Blues have shown glimpses of quality throughout the campaign but need consistency to maintain their top-four push. Jackson’s comeback could be the spark they need to finish the season strongly.
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