Jonson Clarke-Harris counselled to keep eyes on smaller picture

The 22-year-old is several months into his rehabilitation after suffering a serious knee injury in July, which ruled him out for nine months.

The club’s former record signing ruptured anterior cruciate ligements a day after his 22nd birthday in a pre-season game and Jackett is stressing the need for him not to think too far ahead during his recuperation.

Clarke-Harris is set to be sidelined for virtually all of the current season, and Jackett said: “Jonson has a long-term injury, but since I have been in, I have talked to him twice about him focusing on short-term goals to get to his long-term goal, which is getting back.

“Sometimes, if you just look straight at a long-term goal, it can be quite difficult and you can take your eye off the ball.

“He is a big lad and his own personal fitness and body fat (is important) and it is about making sure, if he can, that he sees it as an opportunity to come back fitter. That is where you have to be.”

Meanwhile, Jackett also says that the striker must be mindful that he does not overdo it with his upper body gym work in his rehabilitation work due to his powerful frame.

He added: “He is building the area up around his injury and hopefully that makes him a stronger unit and that can be the case after surgery. But then it is important that your overall body does not get too top-heavy.

“You do see players work sometimes in the wrong way and sometimes come back in a slightly different shape to when they went away and they are not as effective footballers.

“But being lean and strong and maximising what is a really good physique and being effective when he comes back is key.”