‘It’s not easy if you’re not a natural finisher’ – Gary Lineker backs Nicolas Jackson despite his obvious weakness

Nicolas Jackson Chelsea
Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Former England striker Gary Lineker has tipped Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson to develop into a “top-class” player, even as he acknowledged the 23-year-old’s struggles with finishing.

Jackson made a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, scoring nine goals to help Chelsea emerge as surprise Premier League title contenders. However, he endured a dip in form over the festive period, scoring only once since December.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker praised Jackson’s potential:

“There’s a lot of good in his game. His movement is really good. It’s not easy if you’re not a natural finisher, and I don’t think he is one.”

Despite this limitation, Lineker remains optimistic about Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge:

“But if he can improve that side of his game and work at it in training, he could be top class. He’s still very young, so that improvement can come.”

Lineker also highlighted Jackson’s strong connection with teammate Cole Palmer, which has been a bright spot for Chelsea this season:

“His movement is really good and he’s got a great relationship with Cole Palmer.”