Nicolas Jackson is already being described as an upgrade on Ollie Watkins after a fast start to his Aston Villa career. The £65m summer signing scored twice in last week's 2-1 win over Manchester City, taking his tally to seven goals in 11 appearances for the club.
Jackson, a 25-year-old Senegal international, has scored four goals in seven Premier League games this season, averaging a goal every 138 minutes. Both of his strikes against City came from his right foot. He was substituted to a standing ovation in the 82nd minute of that victory.
Tactical masterclass and historic context
Unai Emery's tactical plan was key to the win, which came on the fourth anniversary of his appointment as Villa boss. The manager doubled up on City's wingers to nullify their threat, a strategy that allowed his own side to start at lightning pace. The result helped Villa climb to ninth in the standings with 11 points from eight games and extended their recent unbeaten run to five matches.
Former Villa and England defender Martin Keown has been impressed. "I think he's an upgrade on Ollie Watkins, I really do," Keown said, describing Jackson as "a really good piece of business". Jackson was signed as a direct replacement for Watkins, who scored 91 Premier League goals for Villa before moving to Al-Hilal in August.
Jackson's evolution and future promise
Jackson's shot conversion rate has improved to 21% at Villa Park, up from 15% during his time at Chelsea where he scored 24 goals in 65 league appearances. He is currently outperforming his expected goals tally by two, indicating sharp finishing. Emery, who worked with Jackson for three years at Villarreal, praised the striker's attitude. The manager said he recognised Jackson's capacity to exploit his qualities and his humility.
"The players, the manager, the team - everything is incredible," Jackson said of his swift adaptation. His goals have been central to Villa's recovery from a slow league start and their perfect opening in the Champions League. The team's recent form shows four wins and a draw from their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 3-1 victory over Viking and a 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahçe.
Aston Villa now sit 10 points behind leaders Manchester City but have momentum ahead of their next fixture. They host 15th-placed Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday, 31 October, where Jackson will aim to add to his four-goal haul for the season. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 3-1 home win for Villa in September last year.
This story first appeared at BBC Sport
