AFRICANS ABROAD: Jackson, Salah back among the goals

Two strikers who have had a tough time of late found form at the weekend as they were among the goals and assists in the Premier League, with several other African stars boosting their teams in Europe’s elite leagues. We have a round-up of the top performers.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson has come in for criticism from Chelsea fans for some indifferent displays of late, but he was on fire against West Ham United in the Blues’ 5-0 success. The Senegal forward netted two goals and provided an assist to take his goal contributions in the Premier League to 18 this season (13 scored, five assists), not at all bad at all for a 22-year-old in his first season in England.

It was his blocked shot that rebounded back for Cole Palmer to get the opener, before he had a tap-in for Chelsea’s fourth when Chukwunonso Madueke laid the ball square to him. He was played through on goal for his second, and provided a cool finish into the bottom corner with only the goalkeeper to beat. They were a pair of perfect poacher’s goals.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Salah is another who has not hit the heights he may have expected in recent months and his touchline fracas with manager Jurgen Klopp the previous weekend did not help matters. But he was back in the starting lineup and among the goals and assists as Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at Anfield to keep their very slim hopes of the Premier League title alive.

Despite the perception that his form has dipped, Salah is still up to 28 goal contributions this season (18 goals + 10 assists) and that is an excellent number for a player who was also sidelined and missed six games. His goal was a rare header at the back post and he stooped unopposed to score, before he provided