Premier League Injury Update: Is Nicolas Jackson Injured this Weekend? A Look at Chelsea Forward's Fitness Status

Chelsea continue to hold their position in the top four as they prepare to take on Brighton and Hove Albion once again on Friday night. This comes after being eliminated from the FA Cup in a match against the same opponents last Saturday.

Young buck Nicolas Jackson was absent for Chelsea on that occasion having gone off injured in the second half of his side's 2-1 victory over West Ham the previous Monday night.

Nicolas Jackson injury latest ahead of Brighton v Chelsea

It has since been confirmed that Jackson has suffered a hamstring injury alongside fellow centre-forward Marc Guiu.

And Maresca confirmed at his Thursday afternoon press conference just how long Chelsea expect to be without Jackson.

He said: "Nico will be out until the [mid-March] international break and probably available after the international break.

"We knew it was a muscular problem but we didn't know how important it was because of his reaction. We all thought it was not a big injury, but unfortunately, he had a scan and it will be around six to eight weeks."

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That prognosis would put Jackson's earliest return date at Wednesday April 2, when Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League action.

Chelsea go into this weekend two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle, who will face each other on Saturday afternoon.

Another defeat for Chelsea at Brighton would leave them open to being caught by any winner from that game, as well as seventh-placed Bournemouth.