Newcastle, England - Chelsea have two games that can make their £1bn transfer gambling rewards and they will have to do it without a striker.

Whether it's the club's scattered gun recruitment in Newcastle's 2-0 defeat or Nicolas Jackson's red card for their plight being the most blamed, but either way, Chelsea is looking to qualify for the Champions League as they haven't nailed the ball in two of the most critical matches of the season.

In a recent Premier League revival, Enzo Maresca's side won three consecutive league matches, with Chelsea moving to the top five ahead of Sunday's clash with St James' Park Newcastle. But the mistakes of the six teams - Newcastle, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea and second-placed Arsenal - are designed to ensure that in the remaining four Champions League games where champion Liverpool is behind, this is so thin for each team that any game at this stage can ruin their hopes.

Jackson was reckless in the first half when he hit Newcastle defender Sven Botman with his right elbow, causing referee Referee John Brooks to show a red card after referee Referee John Brooks reviewed a yellow card after Wall Darren England officials requested the first prize.

By that stage, Chelsea had already scored four goals in two minutes of the season's opening game after Sandro Tonali's second-minute opening game for Newcastle. But with the 35-minute clock, Jackson walked along the tunnel, they claimed at least a little chance to be greatly compromised without their only suitable and available striker.

"I haven't talked to Nico yet, it's not the time," coach Enzo Maresca later told reporters. "But I'm going to talk to him in the next few days. The season he's prepared for us is over. He's our 9th place, our forward, so we have to find a solution to the next game. What you have to avoid is these things, but it happened. But, it's the season's out.

If Jackson plays in the second half and Chelsea enjoys a long possession, he might be able to help the team score equalizers, which will gain potential key points. But Chelsea is toothless, a problem they have to overcome in their last two games, namely, home court at Manchester United on Friday, on the last day, heading to Nottingham Forest among potential Champions League decision makers.

Jackson's red card hurt his team in the decisive stage of the season, but the deeper problem is the club's huge spending rave, over £1bn, which leaves them with no solution.

When Maresca chooses his team to face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge later this week, he will have to do so without Jackson for his red card (Christopher Nkunku) (injured), Jadon Sancho, Jadon Sancho (understood by his parent club), Marc Guiu (victed) and Mykhailo Mudryk, his three matches under his designated match, his Jadon Sancho (injured), his limited to his parent club.

In that group, only Jackson can be classified as a striker. The rest is part of Chelsea's various wingers and forwards, who are in yes, yes, you guessed it.

Jackson, who signed from Villarreal in June 2023, is a striker but not a particularly prolific person. His goal was his tenth place in the Premier League this season in a 1-0 win over Everton last month, but he was his first since mid-December. Chelsea won't miss his goal in the last two games, but they will miss his appearance as the focal point of the team.

The target scoring burden will likely fall on the shoulders of forward Cole Palmer, who has won 15 goals in 35 Premier League appearances this season, but despite the 23-year-old’s most talented, it’s 20 games since he last scored from open games in all competitions. His free throw against Liverpool is his first goal since a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on January 14.

Palmer may also be Chelsea’s hero, but they now walk a rope in the next two games. Maresca's team seems to need at least four points, maybe even all six, from their last two games to get the top five. Without a striker, it would be a tough challenge. But with Manchester City's surprise 0-0 on display at Southampton on Saturday, no results are taken for granted at this stage of the season.

Even Newcastle ranked third with 66 points against Chelsea, still looking anxiously at his shoulders in the Champions League qualifiers. They head to Arsenal next Sunday to know that Chelsea and Aston Villa can beat Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively on Friday to match their points. But Newcastle now has an advantage because they have done what they have to do with Chelsea.

It's a different situation for Maresca's team, but if they don't win at least one remaining game, they're unlikely to make the top five. If that happens, when Jackson challenges Botman, their spending of £1 billion will be as difficult as Jackson's decision making.