Enzo Maresca says Nicolas Jackson will 'always score goals' for Chelsea following the news that the striker has signed a contract extension with the club.

It was announced yesterday (Friday) that Jackson has put pen to paper on a new deal with the Blues, which extends his stay until at least 2033.

In the view of Maresca, it is richly deserved, with the Italian coach impressed by the Senegal international during their first two months working together at Chelsea.

'I’m very happy because I think he’s doing very well,’ said Maresca. ‘Since I joined the club he is working hard on the ball and off the ball.’

Jackson made a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge, with 17 goals struck across all competitions in his debut campaign.

He has continued that trend by beginning the 2024/25 campaign in impressive form, scoring in back-to-back Premier League matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.

That makes it two goals and one brilliant assist – for Cole Palmer’s Premier League Goal of the Month at Molineux – in three appearances in the top flight so far.

Maresca believes that shows what the striker is capable of, and only expects that to improve over the current campaign and beyond.

‘This kind of player, I have said already many times, he’s always going to score goals,' Maresca said. ‘And with us in the first three Premier League games he has already given an assist and scored some goals.

‘So I’m very happy for Nico, and also for us.’

Our head coach will no doubt be hoping he and Jackson have even more reason to be happy if the striker extends his run of goals into a third consecutive Premier League match when we travel to Bournemouth this evening.