Nicolas Jackson double sinks Manchester City as Aston Villa striker fast-tracks his Villa Park success
Jackson double leaves Watkins debate behind
Nicolas Jackson's double against Manchester City on Saturday capped an excellent start to the striker's spell at Aston Villa. Signed from Chelsea as a direct replacement for Ollie Watkins, Villa's main source of goals for the previous six seasons, the 25-year-old Senegal international had to hit the ground running in claret and blue.
He has done just that. Jackson has scored seven goals in his first 11 appearances for Villa, six of them in the last six, and has helped the club to a 100% start in the Champions League while spearheading their recovery from a slow start to the Premier League campaign.
"The players, the manager, the team - everything is incredible," Jackson told BBC Match of the Day. "I'm very happy that I'm here and hopefully we can do amazing things together."
Improved finishing at Villa Park
Jackson spent two full seasons at Chelsea after joining in 2023, had a loan spell at Bayern Munich, and moved to Villa in the summer for a deal worth up to £65m. The sample size at Villa Park is much smaller than at Stamford Bridge, but on several metrics he is showing signs of improvement.
At Chelsea, Jackson scored 24 goals in 65 Premier League appearances, netting every 210 minutes on average with a shot conversion rate of 15%. In seven games for Villa, he has four goals, averaging one every 138 minutes with a conversion rate of 21%. One of the main criticisms at Chelsea was that he had plenty of chances and did not take enough of them. In his early weeks at Villa he is outperforming his expected goals tally by exactly two. Both of Villa's shots on target against City came from his right foot, and both went in.
Watkins replacement or upgrade?
Watkins scored 91 Premier League goals in 221 league appearances for Villa before moving to Al-Hilal in August, never failing to reach double figures in the league during his six seasons at the club. Last season's statistics suggest Jackson is more involved in general play than the England forward and is involved in more chances.
Former Villa and England defender Martin Keown told BBC Sport: "I've liked him all season. I think he's key to Villa's success.
"I think he's an upgrade on Ollie Watkins, I really do. Ollie was magnificent for them, but this guy is more of a predator [in and around the penalty area]. Pace will always trouble top defenders and he's got it in abundance.
"I think having worked with the manager before at Villarreal, he's sort of fast-tracking his quick development. He looks like a really good piece of business right now."
Emery effect
Saturday's win came on the fourth anniversary of Unai Emery's appointment as Villa boss. Under the Spaniard, Villa have become regulars in the upper echelons of the Premier League and in European competition, and ended a 30-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa League.
Former Scotland defender Rachel Corsie, who played for Aston Villa in the Women's Super League late in her career, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Emery is quite unique. A lot of coaches will focus on the tactical detail, but he's so intense with it.
"He loves to get the detail right. He never gets tired of trying to better people individually and that takes an incredible amount of work. So many players come here, improve and thrive."
Jackson played under Emery at Villarreal, where he spent three years before Chelsea signed him for £35m. Emery told BBC Match of the Day: "I knew him at Villarreal and he started playing the level he is now. I know his capacity to exploit his qualities and I know, as well, his humility. The mentality is coming through - how focused he is in life and professional career."
Speaking to TNT Sports, Jackson added: "It's not easy [to settle at a new club] but easier because of the coach and the players. It's an incredible dressing room with an incredible manager. I'm very happy to be here and hopefully I will score many goals."