Sky Sports pundit names Chelsea star who’s been “disrespected,” claims he’s been a “huge miss” | OneFootball

Tim Sherwood believes Nicolas Jackson has been “disrespected” as Chelsea continue to struggle without their first choice number nine.

The Blues looked toothless in attack as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, their third defeat in the last five league games.

Chelsea are still fourth, but face a very difficult run-in, and with their current form it’s hard to see where the points are coming from to secure Champions League football.

Sherwood praises disrespected Jackson

The Blues were free scoring earlier in the season, but finding the back of the net has been more difficult in recent weeks.

Chelsea are winless in their last seven away games, scoring just three goals, the lowest in the league and a lack of attacking threat will be of huge concern to Enzo Maresca.

Jackson, who has nine league goals has been a huge miss, despite criticism of him this season, and Paul Merson feels his absence has impacted the form of Cole Palmer.

Jackson has been sidelined since the beginning of February. (Photo by: Reuters/Andrew Couldrige)

It’s not just the goals that Chelsea miss, it’s Jackson’s all round game and the way he makes runs and drags players out of position to create space for others.

Maresca has confirmed the Senegal international is on track to return after the international break, and Sherwood feels the Senegalese has been “disrespected.”

“I think Nicolas Jackson has definitely been disrespected, I think he’s the focal point and a real presence up there,” he told Metro.

“He occupies the centre-halves and takes them back to create space for the likes of Cole Palmer to come into.

“Palmer, in particular, profited off the space that Jackson created him. Enzo [Fernandez] as well. I think Enzo is a better No. 10 than a No.8 and when he gets forward he’s a real goal threat.

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“But they need someone who is going to lead the line and occupy the centre-halves and create that space for them.

“He’s been a huge miss. He’s not a prolific goalscorer but he’s certainly a threat and they can’t replace him. They’ve got nobody like him to come in, they’ve tried it with [Christopher] Nkunku or playing with Pedro Neto as a false nine but it’s not worked.”