NICHOLAS JACKSON is facing a brutal criticism from Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino for his lack of discipline.
The 22-year-old Senegal forward collected his ninth booking of the season on Monday as he left the BENCH to run across the pitch and celebrate Blues' final goal in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Despite having come on fifteen minutes earlier, Jackson rushed to join his teammates as they celebrated an Enzo Fernandez strike in stoppage time.
Jackson now has as many yellow cards as goals this season and is one warning away from a two-match ban.
But only one of his nine bookings was for a foul, while the others were for dissent (4), arguing (2), not withdrawing and now taking the field.
Boss Poch warned Jackson and his young stars about their number of bookings back in September, after the frontman received five in his first six Prem outings and served a suspension.
Pochettino said at the time: “Players like Nico, who are so young and feel and learn the Premier League, need time.
“Players when they are young and have no experience make mistakes.
“This is why we feel disappointed because we see too many situations like this.
“We need to change as quickly as possible. We have to grow up as a team.”
Nicolas Jackson's yellow cards
Dates and reasons why Jackson was booked
August 13, 2023 vs Liverpool – Dissent
August 20, 2023 vs West Ham – Argument
September 2, 2023 vs Nottingham Forest – Dissent
September 17, 2023 vs Bournemouth – Dissent
September 24, 2023 vs Aston Villa – Not backing down
November 6, 2023 vs Tottenham – Foul (tactical error)
November 12, 2023 vs Manchester City – Argument
December 24, 2023 vs. Wolves – Dissent
February 12, 2024 vs Crystal Palace – Enters the pitch
But Chelsea clearly haven't learned as Pochettino's side have collected the most yellow cards (75) in the league this season, more than double Arsenal's 37.
Jackson's latest disciplinary matter comes in the wake of the idea of introducing sin bins into professional football.
A blue card can lead to a period of ten minutes off the field.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has said it is 'destroying' football, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed the idea, saying: 'We have to keep it as simple as possible.'