The international break is over, and PSV return to Eredivisie action on Friday evening when they welcome SC Heerenveen to the Philips Stadion.

Peter Bosz’s side will be looking to respond immediately after suffering their first league defeat of the 2026/27 season before the break. PSV led FC Twente 2-1 in Enschede but conceded twice in the final quarter of an hour to lose 3-2 at De Grolsch Veste.

The defeat has increased the importance of a strong response against Heerenveen, particularly with PSV aiming to maintain pressure at the top end of the table.

Bosz will be without Ricardo Pepi, Sam Lammers and Alassane Pléa due to injury, leaving the PSV manager with limited options in attack.

Guus Til is therefore expected to operate as the central striker, with Sven Mijnans playing behind him.

Aad de Mos believes the solution makes sense, pointing to PSV’s success with makeshift striker partnerships in the past.

“Earlier, makeshift solutions at PSV were already well executed in the striker position. Last year with Saibari and Til it was fine. We'll see whether that will get a sequel with Til and Mijnans,” De Mos said in a video item from Eindhovens Dagblad with PSV watcher Rik Elfrink.

The former coach, however, accepts that Til and Mijnans have yet to develop the same understanding that Til and Ismael Saibari showed last season.

“That wasn’t so great the first time, but the first time doesn’t tell me that much. You have to do it multiple times. They do feel like they can do that,” De Mos added, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The coming weeks will therefore provide Bosz with an opportunity to assess whether the new combination can offer PSV enough attacking threat while their regular forwards remain unavailable.

For De Mos, the most important issue is not simply finding a replacement for Pepi or Pléa. PSV must make a statement with their performance after the setback against Twente.

“You have to make sure you play well,” he said.

“They will have to catch you after the defeat against Twente.”

The message is straightforward. PSV have an opportunity to use their return to the Philips Stadion to restore confidence and show that the loss in Enschede was a setback rather than the beginning of a wider problem.

De Mos also believes a convincing performance would carry significance beyond Friday’s fixture.

“PSV is doing well early on and can show the competition that everything is in order. Then you can also put pressure on Ajax, Feyenoord and AZ,” he said.

With the title race expected to involve several contenders, PSV’s response against Heerenveen could therefore be important. Bosz must find a way to cover the absences in attack while ensuring his team returns to the level that has made them one of the leading sides in the Eredivisie.