Nicolas Jackson 'slowly' getting back to his best in 'new start' at Bayern Munich as striker reflects on first goal since joining from Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson opened his Bayern Munich account in style, scoring and assisting in a 5-1 Champions League win over Pafos. The Chelsea loanee called it a “new start” after a difficult spell on the sidelines and says he’s “slowly” getting back to his best. With Harry Kane continuing his prolific run, Bayern look unstoppable ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Jackson finds first Bayern goal

The Senegalese international made a telling contribution as Bayern brushed aside Pafos with a 5-1 win in Cyprus, registering both a goal and an assist. It was the 24-year-old’s first strike since joining on loan from Chelsea, and he described the moment as the beginning of a “new start” in Germany. His performance capped off a dominant evening in which the English hero Harry Kane netted twice to take his season tally to 17 goals in nine games.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStriker reflects on ‘new start’

After the match, Jackson admitted he had been waiting for this moment since his move. “We played a very good game, pressed high, and ultimately won the match. It wasn’t easy at all. We worked hard, but we simply had to win. I’m very, very happy with my first goal. It’s a new start for me,” said the forward, who also emphasised the challenges of regaining fitness after two months out.

Finding fitness in Munich

Jackson was honest about the road ahead. “I haven’t played in a long time, but now I’m slowly getting back into fitness and want to reach my best level as quickly as possible. It’s hard to say how far I am from my best level. I haven’t played for almost two months, and I’ve also trained on my own. It’s a process; I’m trying to learn and improve every day,” he explained, adding that Bayern’s warm welcome has made him feel “at home.”

imago images/Beautiful SportsKane leads Bayern charge

While Jackson enjoyed his breakthrough, Kane once again underlined his importance to Bayern with two goals. The England captain has now scored 102 goals in 105 games since his arrival from Tottenham, including 11 in his last five appearances. His lethal finishing, supported by new signings Michael Olise and Raphael Guerreiro, continues to push the Bundesliga champions to new levels of dominance, and the fact that he attempted a back volley which was nearly converted before it touched the pole, shows the form in which the English striker is.

Bayern’s ninth win in as many games has them two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and firmly on track in the Champions League. Their next test is a high-powered meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, one of the league’s top scorers. For Jackson, the focus will be on building fitness and confidence as he looks to establish himself as a reliable option behind Kane in a squad brimming with attacking talent.