“Everything about his game has improved” - Shaka Hislop says Chelsea star has become most improved player in Premier League

Pundit Shaka Hislop has hailed Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as the most improved player in the Premier League in light of his displays this season. The Senegalese striker has earned the starting shirt at Stamford Bridge, building on an impressive debut campaign.

Jackson scored 14 goals on the Premier League in his debut season as a Chelsea player, having joined the club in the summer of 2023 from Villarreal. Still only 23, the striker was largely criticized by fans and pundits alike, with many names linked with the club as his potential replacements.

Chelsea stuck with the striker, handing him a contract extension at the start of the 2024-25 season in recognition of his debut campaign in blue. This season, the former Villarreal man has been one of his side's best performers, striking up a brilliant understanding with Cole Palmer in attack.

Hislop spoke with ESPN about Jackson, praising him for the improvement he has shown in his all-round game this season.

“If we did a most improved Premier League list, Nicolas Jackson would probably be top of it. Given his struggles last season, I wondered if he’d be able to make the grade in a league like this.

All of a sudden, what we’ve been seeing from Nicolas Jackson under Maresca for Chelsea has been absolutely revealing. Everything about Nicolas Jackson’s game has improved.”

Nicolas Jackson has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first 11 league appearances for the Blues under Enzo Maresca this season. His form has been praised by the Italian coach, and he has kept Christopher Nkunku out of the starting XI at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are being linked with a number of strikers in the transfer market, but Jackson's performance this season has shown that he can cut it at the highest level. He is projected to score more than 20 league goals at current pace, a feat that has hardly been managed by strikers in blue.

Chelsea star returns to club early from international duty

Chelsea forward Pedro Neto has returned early to his club after featuring for Portugal in their 5-1 thumping of Poland in the UEFA Nations League. The 24-year-old was on the scoresheet for the Selecao in their comfortable win at home.

Neto followed up his goal for his club against Arsenal with another against Poland, this time beating the goalkeeper from a tight angle with a vicious right-footed strike. The former Wolves man was part of a quartet of players handed a rest from the team after their win, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva.

With Portugal having secured their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League, Neto can turn his attention back to his club. The fleet-footed forward will hope for another chance from the start when his side faces Leicester City after the international break on November 23.