Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has named Banjul-born Nicolas Jackson to his 26-man World Cup squad. 

The 22-year-old Villarreal striker 

has been outstanding this season and merited a position in Senegal squad.

Jackson has already been compared to Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane and tipped for stardom. 

The comparisons come from Jackson’s playing style; he is a fast, skilful forward with a penchant for goal scoring. 

He’s already been linked to several top teams in Europe including Aston Villa.

New coach Unai Emery, who was Jackson’s coach at Villarreal until this month, wants to bring him to the club in the January transfer window. 

Jackson has excelled since his arrival in Europe in 2019. Villarreal plucked him from Senegalese outfit Casa Sports, where he was playing first team football at the age of 18. 

He initially went into Villarreal’s B team before an impressive goals and assists haul prompted Emery to promote him to the first team set-up.

Jackson also enjoyed a brief loan at Segunda Division club Mirandes in 2020/21 before Emery deemed him first team ready.