CHRISTOPHER Nkunku bagged his first Chelsea hat-trick on Tuesday night – but it still could be a case of two into one won’t go for Blues boss Enzo Maresca.
Nkunku scored twice before the break and once in the second half as the Blues beat Barrow 5-0 at Stamford Bridge to book their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Joao Felix’s free-kick hit the post and went in off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman for an own goal as the hosts went in 3-0 up at the break against Barrow, who are top of League Two.
Pedro Neto scored his first Chelsea goal from Mykhailo Mudryk’s pass two minutes into the second half.
Nkunku has only started one Premier League game this season – the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day – but has still scored six goals in eight games in all competitions.
Jackson, 23, has four goals in five Premier League games this campaign as he remains Maresca’s choice to start as the loan striker in his current preferred 4-2-3-1.
“They’re both doing fantastic. Not only because they score, but because they work off the ball. The way they sacrifice for the team. This is very important for them,” Maresca said.
“This is a nice problem when you have two strikers that continue to score. It’s nice you can decide which one and because they are in a good moment we can use them.”
Maresca was asked if both could start. He replied: “It could be [time]. But the problem is the defensive balance.
“We can think to place with Nicolas, Christo, Joao, Cole Palmer, Noni [Madueke], fantastic! But then who is defending? Me and you!?”
Chelsea made eleven changes to the side that defeated West Ham United at London Stadium last weekend.
Maresca added: “If we have the chance, we try to share minutes with all of them.
“Happy for Pedro, happy for Christo and for Joao, for all of them. They all deserve to play from the start in the Premier League but they are not playing in this moment. But the way they take the chances when we give them minutes is fantastic.”
Maresca also took the opportunity to send on eighteen-year-olds Tyrique George andJosh Acheampong in the 63rd minute. George, a winger, was making his second Blues appearance after he played against Servette in the Conference League last month.
It was a first-ever appearance for defender Acheampong.
Maresca said: “I was happy with Tyrique and with Josh, I thought they both did very well.
“In these types of games, for them it was important to be brave, don’t be shy. It doesn’t matter if you make a mistake, that’s football. They both did very good. Tyrique missed a chance but then he created another one for himself.
“I really liked the way Josh showed himself with the ball, stepped in, was brave and showed personality. I am happy for both of them.”
