Enzo Maresca will be without Nicolas Jackson for the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. The 24-year-old striker must serve the final game of a three-match ban when Chelsea face Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
During the Blues' penultimate away fixture of last season, Jackson was given his marching orders for a serious foul play offence. The Senegal international was initially cautioned for arriving late to an aerial duel with Sven Botman during Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James' Park.
Darren England, the Video Assistant Referee, and his assistant, Natalie Aspinall, reviewed the incident at Stockley Park before sending John Brooks to the pitch-side monitor. The on-field referee had a look at the challenge and upgraded the yellow card to a red card.
Shortly before Jackson was sent for an early shower, Chelsea were piling on the pressure in Tyneside as they looked to find an equaliser. The west Londoners had gone 1-0 down in the opening couple of minutes following a strike from Sandro Tonali.
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Determined to qualify for the Champions League, Maresca's side knuckled down and tried to mount a comeback. Chelsea did well to keep the Magpies at bay for the next half an hour or so until Jackson was sent off.
The Blues continued to throw bodies forward in the striker's absence before Bruno Guimarães doubled Newcastle's lead in stoppage time. After the game, Jackson was given a three-match ban for his red card, ruling him out of two crucial matches against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
Fortunately for Maresca, Chelsea won each of their last two games, finishing fourth in the Premier League and qualifying for Europe's top-flight competition. Jackson has faced a somewhat uncertain future at Stamford Bridge ever since, with the Blues bringing in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Each of Chelsea's two new strikers have hit the ground running, climbing well above the Senegalese star in the pecking order. Speaking to club media following the Blues' 4-1 friendly win over AC Milan last weekend, Maresca heaped praise on Pedro and Delap.
The Italian said: "They are both our strikers, we need them scoring goals during the season, and we are very happy with both of them. Liam played some games in the USA [at the Club World Cup] and he scored here today.
"They have to be without pressure or stress, and they will score goals for sure and miss goals for sure. But at the end, they are going to help us."
Enzo Maresca celebrates
Enzo Maresca celebrates with his Chelsea players after their FIFA Club World Cup triumph (Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
Jackson, who has been heavily linked with an exit this summer, was omitted from each of Chelsea's pre-season clashes. According to the Daily Mail, the striker has informed higher-ups at Stamford Bridge that he wants to explore his future, and the Blues are helping him find a new club.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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