It is feared that Nicolas Jackson may not be fully fit for the start of Chelsea’s pre-season campaign after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Senegal last week.
Jackson limped out of his country’s 1-1Â draw against DR Congo in Diamniadio in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
The 22-year-old was subsequently unavailable for Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Mauritania.
A statement published by the Senegalese FA has since provided an update regarding the severity of Jackson’s injury.
It read: ‘Nicolas Jackson injured his right ankle during the Senegal-DRC match on June 6, 2024. Radiology examinations (MRI) carried out on June 7 revealed a serious sprain of the ankle.’
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson could miss the start of pre-season with an ankle injury
Jackson scored 14 goals in 34 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be hoping that Jackson can recover well over the summer and be ready to go when the club’s pre-season tour of the USA kicks off with a friendly against Wrexham on July 24.
Maresca’s men will also take on Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid during their visit to the States.
The Maresca era will then begin in earnest in the third weekend in August when the 2024/25 edition of the Premier League gets underway.
Jackson scored 14 league goals in his first season as a Chelsea player following last summer’s ÂŁ35 million transfer from Villarreal.
He was one of only two Blues players to reach double digits, along with 22-goal star Cole Palmer.Â
New manager Enzo Maresca will be hoping to have Jackson fit before Chelsea fly to the USA
Jackson and Palmer’s goals helped Chelsea finish sixth in the Premier League last season.
That resulted in the Stamford Bridge club qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Chelsea will enter the Conference League in the play-off round, starting on August 22.
