Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson could become one of the top forwards in Europe under Unai Emery
Nicolas Jackson celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa against Fenerbahce
Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson scored twice against Fenerbahce(Image: AFP or licensors)
Nicolas Jackson left Villa Park with a big smile on his face, even if he was disappointed not to win the Man of the Match award or take the penalty that would have given him the chance to complete a Champions League hat-trick.
Replacing Ollie Watkins was one of Villa’s biggest challenges in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, but a growing number of people are claiming that Jackson is an improvement on the now-Al-Hilal forward.
Jackson has already scored five goals in eight matches for Villa, including three in the club’s first two Champions League matches this term. It’s his all-round game and ability to combine with teammates that have been most impressive.
Watkins’ endeavour and fighting spirit at the top of the pitch were clear assets when he was at his best, and Jackson is proving he can bring those qualities too. Now, it remains to be seen whether he can consistently deliver top performances. If he can, he’ll be rated among the better strikers in Europe.
Signed for a fixed fee of £47.5m, which could rise to £65m, Jackson is already looking like excellent business for Villa, who underwent huge changes on and off the pitch over the summer.
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Yet one thing that remained unchanged, and which few appreciated enough, was that Villa have the Premier League’s top manager in Unai Emery, who has built a dressing-room culture that is not only geared towards winning but also development of players and maintaining elite standards.
That has helped the young talent that arrived at Bodymoor Heath over the summer settle quickly, with Jackson, Joao Gomes, Zion Suzuki and Johan Manzambi particularly impressive.
There will be more to come from others, too, including Ibrahim Mbaye, who started his second match for the club at just 18 years of age. Brian Madjo is still only 17 and has now returned from injury.
Jackson, meanwhile, has been given a platform to prove himself under a manager he previously worked with at Villarreal and with whom he has a great relationship.
Often criticised for being raw during his time at Chelsea, Jackson is now maturing in all aspects of his game, as well as in his mentality.
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Every striker wants to score goals and after being denied the chance to complete a Champions League hat-trick at the Holte End, you can imagine how Jackson was feeling before coming off against Fenerbahce.
But there was no scene, drama or petulant behaviour when Barkley took the ball and slotted it past Ederson. Jackson’s temperament was in stark contrast to what happened when he was a Chelsea player in April 2024, when the Blues beat Everton 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were 4-0 ahead when they were awarded a penalty, with both Noni Madueke and Jackson claiming the spot-kick for themselves instead of designated taker Cole Palmer.
Thiago Silva and Conor Gallagher both had to come over to back Palmer’s claim, with Jackson returning to the group to express his frustration.
Then-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said: “It is a shame. We cannot behave in this way. I told them, ‘This is the last time we behave like this.’ It is impossible to have this type of behaviour after this performance. If we want to be a great team, we need to change and think in a collective way.
“We need to make it clear next time that this happens, they need to learn and be professional. We need to be focused on the collective. They knew it was Cole. Cole is the taker. It’s a clear example that it’s a process we still need to learn.”
There isn’t another manager Jackson would rather play under than Emery, who knows his striker inside out after giving him the chance to shine at Villarreal, months before his big move to Chelsea.
“I’m with the coach I want to be with, I am at the club I belong at. I’m happy to be here. I want to continue to work and focus on the pitch,” Jackson said after scoring in the win against Tottenham last month.
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