Chelsea have been hit with a significant setback as striker Nicolas Jackson has been ruled out for around six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old forward suffered the injury during the 2-1 victory over West Ham on February 3 and has since undergone scans that revealed the problem to be worse than initially feared. Jackson is now unlikely to return before April, leaving boss Enzo Maresca with a major selection headache.

The Senegalese international, who has scored nine goals this season, was absent from Chelsea’s FA Cup loss to Brighton last weekend. Maresca had previously downplayed the severity of the issue, but the latest medical assessments confirm an extended spell on the sidelines.

Jackson’s absence is compounded by Marc Guiu’s muscle injury, leaving Chelsea without a recognised striker. Christopher Nkunku stepped in last weekend but has managed just two Premier League goals this season due to injuries and limited game time.

With Chelsea sitting fourth in the table, Jackson’s injury comes at a crucial time as the Blues push for a top-four finish and prepare to resume their Europa Conference League campaign next month—their only remaining chance of silverware this season.

The Blues return to Premier League action against Brighton on Friday, but Maresca must now find a way to navigate the coming weeks without his first-choice No. 9.