Chelsea can fix Jackson blow by unleashing 17 y/o who’s “Cobham’s finest”

Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League after the latest weekend of action, having lost 3-0 to Brighton on Friday night. Whilst the Blues are only one point off of a top-four spot, their recent run of form is worrying, and their lack of goals mixed with their vulnerability at the back is not proving to be a good mix.

Enzo Maresca’s side are averaging 58.6% possession (second in the division), taking 16 shots per game (fourth in the division) and have scored 47 goals in 25 games, making them the fifth-highest scorers in the division. That being said, Chelsea’s goal distribution in the Premier League isn’t very well spread.

Aside from Cole Palmer, who has 14 Premier League goals in 25 appearances, also providing six assists in those games, Chelsea’s two next-highest league scorers are now out injured, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke both picking up knocks in recent weeks.

Nicolas Jackson & Marc Guiu blow

Jackson has made 24 appearances this season in all competitions, scoring nine goals, providing five assists and totalling 1,778 minutes played.

But it isn’t just the goal tally of the 23-year-old forward that Chelsea will miss, it’s also the overall work he does on and off the ball, linking play, making threatening runs in behind to stretch the pitch and working hard to press from the front.

His only natural number nine replacement also went down injured after being substituted on against West Ham a few weeks ago. Marc Guiu has made 13 appearances in total this season, scoring six goals in 578 minutes played.

Without both Jackson and Guiu, Chelsea do not have any senior strikers left, with the closest thing being Christopher Nkunku, who is naturally more of an attacking midfielder.

This could mean if Maresca wants a more traditional striker option, he has to look at the academy lads and see what internal solutions there are.

Cobham could provide Chelsea’s centre-forward solution

Maresca could look to turn to Chelsea’s excellent crop of academy players, who currently sit sixth in Premier League 2. 17-year-old Shumaira Mheuka is one talent that is very highly thought of, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances for the U18 and U21 teams this campaign.

The Cobham youngster is blessed with an incredible turn of pace, has brilliant ball manipulation to shift and find a yard to get his shot off and uses his body extremely well to protect the ball and retain possession.

Jacek Kulig labelled Mheuka “one of Chelsea’s biggest jewels”, praising his brilliant month since making his senior debut on the 12th of December against Astana, going on to call Mheuka “Cobham’s finest”.

Whilst the 17-year-old may not be fully ready to be thrown in at the deep end, with Chelsea’s lack of options, this could be a great opportunity to take the pressure off, give Mheuka some first-team involvement in the coming weeks, and see if he can provide an internal solution to their current striker issues.

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