Chelsea completed the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in the summer transfer window with the Senegal international coming in to start as Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice striker.
Chelsea risk losing Nicolas Jackson to suspension in the coming weeks once Premier League action resumes after the international break. The Senegalese striker has already acquired three yellow cards in just four games – being one of four players to do so.
Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, ex-Chelsea defender Emerson and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina are the other three players to rack up as many bookings as Jackson so far this season. The 2023/24 campaign has delivered on the prediction that match officials would be stricter on player conduct and time-wasting.
The revamped guidelines has led to referees brandishing more yellow cards at this stage of the season than ever before. Any Premier League player who racks up five yellow cards inside the first 19 league games will be suspended for one match.
Matchday 19 will take place over the festive period, with most teams in action on Boxing Day, before a slight break comes in 2024. Players who accumulate double-figure bookings before, and including, the 32nd game of the season will be suspended for a further two games.
As for Jackson, he is rapidly approaching a suspension which could leave Mauricio Pochettino wishing Chelsea had signed another striker in the summer transfer window. The Blues had the opportunity to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus to bolster their firepower heading into the new season, but opted against signing the Serbia international for around £68million as Romelu Lukaku joined Roma on loan.
The oversight in not signing another striker to compete with Jackson could cost Chelsea in the long term if he does get suspended for accumulating bookings. Armando Broja is closing in on a return to action after his serious knee injury – but the Albanian forward will need to hit the ground running to impress Pochettino.
