Nicolas Jackson has flown out of the blocks for Chelsea this season (Picture: Getty)
Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has tipped Nicolas Jackson to win the Ballon d’Or in the future if he ‘continues to work’ and deliver on his undoubted potential.
Jackson, 23, received widespread criticism for a lack of consistency following a £32million from move Villarreal, though finished his debut season in the Premier League with 14 goals to his name.
While many young players may have wilted under the intense scrutiny, Jackson has bounced back and silenced his doubters this term, racking up six goals and three assists in the English top flight.
An in-form Jackson will no doubt be licking his lips ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Old Trafford, where Maresca’s men will look to inflict yet more suffering on a managerless Manchester United.
Jackson’s international colleague, Koulibaly, understands more than most the pressures that comes with being a Chelsea player and left the club after just one year last summer.
The centre-back, now with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal, is delighted to see his fellow countryman respond from a ‘difficult’ start to become a key player under Enzo Maresca.
‘I speak all the time with Nicolas because he’s my international team-mate. He’s a young player who I like. I speak a lot with him,’ Koulibaly told GiveMeSport.
Koulibaly swapped Chelsea for the Saudi Pro League a year ago (Picture: Getty)
‘Nicolas can be a very good player. Edouard Mendy and me, we talk with him a lot because we know how difficult it is arriving from Villarreal to a big club like Chelsea.
‘I give him a lot of advice because he deserves it, and he listens to his elders.
‘Nicolas is a very nice player. Everyone wanted more from him last year, but he is young.
‘It’s true that at Chelsea the demand is very high. They want a lot of goals, assists and players to be very good from the beginning.’
The Senegal attacker has notched six goals and three assists in the league this season (Picture: Getty)
Koulibaly has been telling Jackson ‘all the time’ that he can become one of the best players on the planet with a little more self-confidence.
‘I hope he will continue to score. We know for all strikers life is goals and Nicolas is no different,’ he added.
‘He has a good attitude and personality. And for me, he’ll become the story of Senegal, just like Sadio Mane did. I am always telling him he has to follow Mane.
Senegal superstar Mane is the perfect role model for Jackson, says Koulibaly (Picture: Getty)
‘I hope he will be the best player in Africa and why not in the world? He has the talent, so all things are at his feet.
‘Nicolas has to believe he can be this good. That is the most important thing. All the players who have won the Ballon d’Or believed they could. They all thought they could win this trophy. So you have to put this in Nicolas’ head.
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Source:: Metro
