Although Jackson was only involved from the bench in our last game of 2024, that was just the second time this season he had not been named in Maresca’s starting line-up for a Premier League fixture.

He has nine goals to his name in that competition so far at the midway point, well on his way to surpassing his tally of 14 in the whole of 2023/24, having shown impressive form during the first half of the current campaign.

Our head coach confirmed his absence last time out was purely to give other players a chance, meaning the striker could return for our first match of 2025.

‘He can do many things better, but he is doing already very good,’ explained Maresca, speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Crystal Palace.

‘He has already scored nine goals and last year he scored 14, so he’s on course to score more goals than he scored last year. Hopefully he can score more goals, he can help us, but we are completely happy with Nico.

‘The reason why he didn’t play the last game against Ipswich was because we have also more players that can help us.’

Another player who missed the trip to Ipswich, but is now nearing a return, even if tomorrow’s match is too soon for him to be involved, is Romeo Lavia.

The midfielder is back in training and Maresca hopes to have him involved soon, believing his presence is always a boost to the team’s performance.

‘I think football, it is all about players. We can have the best idea, but if you don’t have the players you struggle. Romeo is a top player for us and for sure with Romeo we are a better team. But when Romeo is not there we need to also manage that kind of game.

‘I think since we started we have won games without Romeo, we have lost games without Romeo, but for sure if you ask me we are a better team with Romeo. But not only with Romeo, we are a much better team with Reece. It’s all about players.

‘I can give the players the tools, how they have to behave, for sure 100 per cent, but if they are not good enough I can give them all the tools that I have but we are not going to win games. So it is a little bit of both.’

Further back, it has been confirmed that defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile will be out of action and unavailable for selection for the time being.

In addition to their obvious talents, Enzo explained why their absence at the same time is an especially bad piece of luck, requiring a tactical rethink at the back.

‘I’ve said many times I am in love with Wes, because Wes is that kind of defender who gives you the chance to press and be aggressive and to leave him one-v-one with someone like Ollie Watkins over the whole pitch.

‘We did exactly the same when Wes was injured with Benoit, one-v-one with Dominic Solanke on the whole pitch, and they can deal with that. It is very difficult to find that kind of defender.

‘Now unfortunately both are injured, but we are trying to find different solutions.’

Hopefully Maresca and the Blues can find a suitable solution for tomorrow’s trip to Selhurst Park, for what he knows will be a difficult encounter with Crystal Palace.

‘It will be a tough game like the last game was tough for us. They are all tough games, especially there in their stadium. They are quite clear what they do since the manager has been there.

‘Also off the ball they are very aggressive. It’s a team that if you concede transitions to them they can hurt you, so we need to manage both phases, when we attack and when we defend.’