Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has declared Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can score 20 goals for Chelsea this season - but admits he is not the striker to lead the line in the long run.
Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang, 33, returned to the Premier League at the end of the summer transfer window by signing a two-year deal with the Blues. He only departed the Gunners for Barcelona in February but fell down the pecking order at Camp Nou following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski.
This prompted him to move elsewhere and he has made two appearances for Chelsea, failing to find the back of the net in the Champions League clashes against Dinamo Zagreb and Red Bull Salzburg. Chances to open his account for the Blues have been scarce over the last few weeks due to the postponements of the Premier League fixtures against Fulham and Liverpool following the death of the Queen.
Further, Aubameyang has been recovering from a broken jaw sustained in a terrifying armed raid on his home in Spain, meaning he has had to play wearing a protective mask. Despite this disruptive start to the season, Hasselbaink has no doubt the Gabonese frontman can be an instant hit at Stamford Bridge, citing his excellent record of 13 goals in 24 games for Barca.
"Aubameyang did really well at Barcelona. He was scoring goals. It's a good signing for Chelsea for the next two years," the former Chelsea striker told SafeBettingSites. "I don't think that it is a four or five-year signing. It's a two-year signing. I think he will score goals; he knows where the back of the net is.
"He did sign for Chelsea because [Thomas] Tuchel was there but as a footballer it happens that managers come and go. His career will keep on going and he needs to produce like any other player and I don't think that is a problem.
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"Aubameyang can score 20-plus goals. Have they got a squad to go and become champions? Not yet. Have they got a squad to get in the top four and compete for an FA Cup, or get far in the Champions League? Yes."
As Hasselbaink alluded to, Aubameyang's reunion with former Borussia Dortmund manager Tuchel was short-lived as the German was sacked earlier this month. Nonetheless, the former Netherlands international is sure the Chelsea No. 9 will be "embraced" by newly-appointed Blues boss Graham Potter and the goals will soon start flowing.
"I think he's going to embrace it and I think Graham Potter will embrace him as well. I don't see any problem really," Hasselbaink added. "He has only played two matches. He has not hit the back of the net yet but that will come. You don't become a bad player overnight."
