Enzo Maresca has confirmed Chelsea have had bad news over Nicolas Jackson.
It emerged on Wednesday that Jackson is facing a significant spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Maresca has confirmed Jackson will be out after the March international break, meaning he will miss a crucial period in the season.
Losing Jackson is a major blow for Chelsea, who are set to be without an out-and-out striker until April.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s Premier League game away at Brighton, Maresca said: “Nico will be out until the intentional break, probably available after that.
“We knew that it was a muscular problem, but we did not know how important it was because his reaction was quite good we did not think it was a big injury.
“Unfortunately he had a scan a few days ago and it is an important one, it will be around eight to six weeks.”
Jackson will miss Premier League games against Brighton, Aston Villa, Southampton, Leicester and Arsenal, as well as a two-legged Conference League last-16 tie.
Chelsea have also lost Marc Guiu to injury.
Without Jackson, Maresca used Christopher Nkunku as a striker in last weekend’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Brighton.
The Chelsea boss is now likely to choose between Nkunku and Cole Palmer as a false nine.
On other team news ahead of the Brighton game, Maresca said: “Marc Guiu will also be out for a while. Romeo [Lavia] is in the process to come back with us. Benoit Badiashile exactly the same.
“Wes Fofana started to work with us two days ago. That means he still needs two or three weeks to be 100 per cent fit. But at least he has started to work with us.
“Reece [James] is OK. Against Brighton it was planned to give him a rest. He had some rest in the last days but he is available.”
