Enzo Maresca offers Nicolas Jackson line-up hint as Chelsea message 'getting through'

Chelsea enter Sunday afternoon's clash with Newcastle United on a six-match unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge, having yet to lose at home since their opening day defeat to Manchester City.

The likes of Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia will be primed and ready after sitting out Thursday night's 4-1 win over Panathinaikos, having not been included in Enzo Maresca's initial Europa Conference League squad - due to game-management purposes.

Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto were also left at home, with the Blues head coach explaining: "We are protecting players from injury and different reasons." Nicolas Jackson also remained in London.

The striker - who has five goals in nine matches this season - watched from home as fellow forwards Joao Felix (2) and Christopher Nkunku found the net in Greece. The Senegal star has been criticised for being wasteful during his time at Chelsea, but Maresca has attempted to shut down such chat.

Jackson 'important' for Chelsea

Maresca has thrown his support behind Jackson, who has started each Premier League game so far and is framed as their first-choice striker. Speaking ahead of the visit of Newcastle, the Italian listed the qualities the 23-year-old has been showing.

"We know very well that he is important for us," he said - as per The Standard. "On the ball he's working fantastic.

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"He's scoring goals, he's assisting, he's linking with his team-mates - off the ball he's working hard and he's pressing the way we want to press and he's doing fantastic with us."

football.london says: Chelsea might be playing the long game with Jackson. The striker certainly has quality but, perhaps, finds himself behind Nkunku when it comes to being clinical.

However, Nkunku - who has eight goals in 13 games - has suffered no end of injury problems over the past year and his minutes must be managed. Plus, he's an attacking midfielder playing as a forward. Jackson is three years younger and has better potential. Now, just to fulfil it...

Maresca on 'best moments' at Chelsea

Maresca has, meanwhile, spoken about how his Chelsea players are learning under his tutelage and how he says that is becoming visible during matches. He reckons the players are recognising that themselves.

"Absolutely [the players can see the tactical changes themselves]," Maresca said. "I can see, not only on the pitch, but also when we have team meetings with video clips, you can see sometimes the players start to recognise for themselves, the solutions.

"For me as the head coach, it's one of the best moments because you can see they are learning and they are very grateful for that."

football.london says: Chelsea have indeed visibly adapted well to Maresca's requests, and style of play, and are reaping rewards because of that. Their display in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool was evidence that the early signs are there - and the travelling fans showed their appreciation after full-time.

Matches against Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal before the international break will further show the level they are at. Results against those three can be the catalyst to go on and make a real fist of it this season.