CHELSEA star Nicolas Jackson is aiming to fire the Blues to glory this season – just six years after he was playing BAREFOOT football.
That was back in Senegal, where he grew up with his mother working night and day on a farm to make ends meet.
These days it is Jackson that is providing for his family after he penned a whopping eight-year deal with the Blues this summer after signing for £32m.
After a tricky start to life in the Premier League, the 22-year-old forward has scored four goals in his last two matches.
But being Chelsea’s main striker seemed a lifetime away back in 2017 as Jackson’s footballing fairytale began without him even owning a pair of boots.
And that led to him honing his skills by playing against his mates without any shoes on after he had dropped out of school.
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He told The Telegraph: “In Ziguinchor, it was playing on the streets, playing with your friends only.
“No club, just playing because you love the game. Maybe playing, one euro each, against each other.
“Having fun, playing without boots. Just barefoot or maybe you borrow someone’s boots to play.”
He was signed by Casa Sports in his homeland before Spanish side Villarreal swooped to bring him to Spain in 2017.
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Jackson was initially part of their B side, and had a loan at minnows Mirandes, before he finally earned his chance in the big time.
He made his LaLiga debut as substitute in October 2021 – but he had to wait almost a year for his first goal.
Jackson’s first top-flight strike came in a 3-0 win at Real Valladolid in August 2022, and that proved to be a key moment for the four-capped Senegal international.
He went on to score 13 times in total last season, inbetween a failed transfer due to failing a medical in January, to catch the eye of Chelsea.
Jackson’s Premier League dream move then came true – but he initially found things difficult out on the pitch this term under Mauricio Pochettino.
He only scored three times, twice in the league, in his first 13 appearances for the WEst London club.
Now both he, Pochettino and Blues supporters everywhere are hoping that he has now found top gear.
Jackson grabbed a hat-trick in the 4-1 win at Tottenham earlier this month before following that up with another goal in the pulsating 4-4 draw with Manchester City that followed.
He will be looking to continue his red-hot streak when Chelsea travel to Newcastle United this afternoon – only this time he will be wearing his Nike sponsored Mercurial Superfly 9’s on his feet.
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