Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has backed Nicolas Jackson to keep silencing doubters after his brace against West Ham. 

Jackson has drawn heavy criticism for squandering several big chances since his move from Villarreal last summer. 

But the 22-year-old took his Premier League tally to 13 after scoring twice in the 5-0 hammering of David Moyes' men. 

And Ba was quick to aim a dig at Jackson's critics as he urged his Senegalese compatriot to 'keep doing your thing'. 

'Football is crazy' Ba, who played 51 time for Chelsea, wrote on X. 

Nicolas Jackson took his Premier League tally to 13 with a brace in the win over Wes Ham

'Nicolas Jackson was a doubt in people’s mind after missing couple chances in a game few weeks ago. 

'All of a sudden he became a great footballer / goalscorer. Keep doing your thing and shining my little brother'.

Jackson's first goal against West Ham came via a simple tap in after being unselfishly set-up by Noni Madueke. 

The pair were involved in a heated row during Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Everton last month, with both players attempting to take a penalty instead of designated taker Cole Palmer.

Both were heavily criticised for their antics but Pochettino insisted Sunday's performance showed his young team has matured.

‘The assist from Noni to Jackson, that showed that we learn, that we are smart,’ Pochettino said.

‘The situation with the penalty if you remember against Everton, we received many criticisms but a young team always needs to make mistakes, we need to feel this situation to improve.

‘We are able to improve it because we are smart and intelligent people. I think today was a great action of Noni to see how the group is starting to live and starting to feel in between them.

‘This always is process that takes time. You never know if it’s going to take one month, six months or a year. The most important thing is that they start to set the principles feel and live like a group of players that are creating all the links in order to compete.

‘That is the reality. I am so pleased for that because we [the staff] are part of this process, helping them to grow and be more mature and improve all the aspects.

‘I think that it’s only the first step, massive step but it is a step that we wanted to reach. From there, we can evolve in all the other aspects.

‘Without principles, without things that we start to show in a competitive way, it’s impossible to evolve other aspects.’