Chelsea finally get first January decision confirmed with Nicolas Jackson replacement found

Senegal have confirmed their squad for the 2024 African Cup of Nations and Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been called up as expected. The 22-year-old has scored seven times in the Premier League this season for the Blues and is their top scorer.

Jackson is on course to be the highest scoring Chelsea player in a single season since Tammy Abraham netted 15 in 2019/20. No player has managed to match that or come close to the 20 goals of Diego Costa in both 2014/15 or 2016/17 in the past seven years despite lavish funds being spent on new attackers.

The former Villarreal man only arrived at Stamford Bridge earlier this year having played most of his career as a winger. His move into central areas coincided with a stunning run of form towards the back of last season though and saw Chelsea pounce on him after Bournemouth backed out of a deal in January due to injury problems.

Jackson's rise has meant he is now a regular in Aliou Cisse's national side but has only played five times since his debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Heading into AFCON 2024, set to be held in Ivory Coast, he is one of the younger players in an experienced side looking to defend their title.

Led by former Chelsea duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy last time out Senegal are coming off the back of a last-16 finish at the World Cup where they lost 3-0 to England in the knockout stages. Jackson was some way off the team at that stage but will now be looking to force his way into the starting XI more regularly.

Leicester midfielder Nampalys Mendy and Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye are also included with other standout names being Cheikhou Kouyate, Pape Matar Sarr, Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye. Jackson was always expected to be in the