Ex-Aston Villa boss backs Unai Emery to help striker flourish
The ex-Chelsea striker arrived at Villa Park this summer.
Former Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has described Nicolas Jackson as a “hold and cold player”, but feels Unai Emery is capable of getting the best out of him.
Jackson had previously worked with Emery at Villarreal, before joining Chelsea for £32million in 2023.
The Senegalese striker netted 30 times in 81 matches for the Blues and spent the previous campaign on loan at Bayern Munich, where he scored 11 goals as back-up to England captain Harry Kane, and lifted the Bundesliga title.
He teamed up with Emery again this summer at Villa Park and has started his spell with two goals in his first six appearances.
On Jackson, Sherwood told MaxFreeBets: “He’s a hot and cold player and he always had been. He just needs that love.
“There was a lack of options there. The only other player they’ve got is Tammy Abraham and he’s not really done it since he’s been back.
“So hopefully Nicolas gets a lot of game time, gets an arm around his shoulder from a manager who already knows him, because he played for him at Villarreal.
“He’s comeback because he feels the love from Unai and hopefully they can create some chances for him.
“But he’s not a player who’s going to make any chances on his own, he needs that service.
“Hopefully they can find the service to him and he can start scoring the goals and show us why he went for the huge money to Chelsea.”
Jackson opened his goal scoring account for Villa during their 3-2 success over Club Brugge in their UEFA Champions League opener.
He then added to his tally by getting off the mark for his new employers in the Premier League, netting in a 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
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