NICOLAS JACKSON has been told he will start for Chelsea in tonight’s Conference League Final.
The striker is desperate to make amends for getting sent off at Newcastle 17 days ago.
He is currently serving a three-match domestic ban and will miss the first game of the next Premier League season as a result.
But Blues boss Enzo Maresca has been making his final team selection ahead of this evening’s clash with Real Betis.
And Jackson will be included in the starting XI in Wroclaw.
Jackson was sent off in the first half of the huge showdown at St James’ Park.
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The 23-year-old threw an elbow at Newcastle star Sven Botman, with replays showing he was watching the defender’s movement before glancing away and striking him in the face.
Ten-man Chelsea went down 2-0, leaving their Champions League hopes on a knife-edge.
But they recovered in his absence to seal a top-four finish with Sunday’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
Maresca told the media last night that Jackson is “in debt” to his team-mate’s over his red card.
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And the Blues boss revealed the Senegalese international had apologised following the incident.
Maresca said: “I think Nico is in debt with his team-mates.
“And the reason why is because in that moment, Newcastle away was for us the most important game.
“And he left his teammates with ten players for one hour.
“So for sure he’s in debt. For sure he’s a good guy. For sure he recognised the mistake.
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“He apologised to his teammates. That is very important.
“And I’m sure that [in the final] he’s going to do a very good game for us.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
