Chelsea sold Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa in the summer after he was largely left as an unwanted piece in Xabi Alonso’s jigsaw.
Joao Pedro was preferred as the leading striker, with Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha viewed as alternative options. Meanwhile, Jackson has moved on to a new band and is now receiving rave reviews for his performances.
The Senegalese striker has been named the Premier League's Player of the Month for October after scoring four goals in four appearances, capping an impressive start to life at Aston Villa.
However, for Chelsea fans this is bitter sweet for many given the club struggles recently and the need for a striker. Jackson was never not loved by Stamford Bridge faithful as he was the individual who always gave 100% but his accuracy and conversion rate was considered poor.
Sweet side
The added satisfaction of seeing Jackson perform so well is that he is helping take points off Chelsea's rivals. The Senegalese striker has scored winning goals against Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United, making an immediate impact in some of Aston Villa's biggest fixtures.
While Villa continues to climb the table and Jackson enjoys a rich vein of form, consistency has always been one of his biggest challenges, and maintaining this level will be the real test. Hopefully, that dip is coming around Christmas as the midlands team host Chelsea on 21 December.
Bitter side
What could have been.......
Chelsea always wanted to see Jackson develop into a prolific goalscorer, but that consistency never quite arrived. He often missed the easier chances while finding the net with opportunities that appeared far more difficult.
Although Jackson reached double figures for Premier League goals in both of his seasons at Stamford Bridge, his biggest weakness was his finishing. He converted just 24 of the 61 big chances he had as a Premier League player, highlighting the inconsistency in front of goal that ultimately contributed to his departure.
However, considering how he could be utilised in Alonso's system, particularly with Joao Pedro currently unavailable, there is a sense that Jackson might have produced a different set of results had he remained at Chelsea. His pace, movement and ability to stretch defences could have offered something valuable to the current side.
The potential was always there, but comparisons with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka never did him any favours. Jackson needed the freedom to establish his own identity rather than constantly being measured against two of Chelsea's most celebrated strikers.
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