Chelsea suffer blow as Jackson faces six-week injury layoff

Chelsea's first-choice striker picked up the injury during the 2-1 victory over West Ham on February 3, forcing him off early. Initially, Maresca played down the severity of the issue, but recent scans have revealed it to be more serious than expected. With nine goals to his name this season, Jackson is now unlikely to return before April.

His absence was already felt in Chelsea's FA Cup defeat to Brighton last weekend, a match he missed while awaiting further assessment. After that game, Maresca admitted that being without his main forward had a significant impact on the team's performance.

The Blues will return to Brighton on Friday for a Premier League fixture, but their attacking options are dwindling. Marc Guiu is also sidelined with a muscle injury, adding to the coach's concerns upfront. Christopher Nkunku stepped in last weekend, but despite netting 13 times this season, only two of those goals have come in the Premier League due to limited playing time.

Chelsea currently sit fourth in the table as they push for a Champions League spot. They also remain in European competition, with the Conference League representing their last chance at silverware this season.

However, they will have to navigate both challenges without their main forward for the foreseeable future.