Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson undergoes wrist surgery but expected to face Arsenal when football returns after the international break.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has pulled out of international duty with Senegal to undergo surgery on a wrist injury.

However, Arsenal may still have to face the forward, as he is expected to be fit for the game on 21 October at Stamford Bridge.

Jackson wore a splint on his right wrist in his last two appearances for Chelsea.

The issue first came to light ahead of Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup, according to a report by the Daily Mirror.

Subsequently, Jackson had a minor operation, causing him to pull out of Senegal’s match against Cameroon.

The 22-year-old forward has not joined the Senegalese squad for their friendly in France on 16 October. Senegal confirmed his absence and announced Rangers striker Abdallah Sima as his replacement.

Since his £30m transfer from Villarreal this summer, Jackson has netted three goals in nine appearances for Chelsea.

He scored the decisive goal in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win and was also on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Burnley, tying him with Raheem Sterling at the top of Chelsea’s goalscoring charts for the season.

However, Jackson missed Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Fulham due to a suspension. That match was sandwiched between Chelsea’s victories over Brighton and Burnley.

Chelsea, keen on capturing a fourth consecutive win in all competitions, are likely to pull out all the stops when they host Arsenal. Yet for the Gunners, a Jackson-free Chelsea would undoubtedly be a preferable scenario.