With three senior forwards sidelined, Peter Bosz must pivot to a makeshift midfield attack as the Eredivisie leaders scramble to solve a devastating frontline injury crisis.
PSV are facing another shortage of centre-forwards after Ricardo Pepi was forced off early in the 3-2 defeat to FC Twente, leaving Peter Bosz with only limited options in attack.
Pepi’s injury came just seven minutes into Sunday’s Eredivisie clash in Enschede. The American forward, who had started ahead of Sven Mijnans, was unable to continue and appears to be dealing with a muscle problem.
It is another significant setback for PSV, who already have Alassane Pléa and Sam Lammers unavailable.
Lammers was signed from FC Twente after spending last season with the club, while PSV also invested heavily in their attacking options during the summer. Yet with all three senior centre-forwards currently sidelined, Bosz has been forced to look elsewhere.
![Bosz has to rely on a makeshift solution again in the absence of his three recognised strikers [Reuters]](https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/88facee2-27ef-470b-ba3d-d6c094d4befc.jpeg)
Bosz has to rely on a makeshift solution again in the absence of his three recognised strikers [Reuters]Mijnans and Til Provide Bosz With a Makeshift Solution
There is technically another fit striker available in the squad, with 17-year-old Danish forward Mikkel Bro Hansen on the bench.
However, Bosz does not yet consider the teenager ready to be thrown into an Eredivisie top clash. Instead, PSV have turned to a system in which Mijnans and Guus Til alternate in the centre-forward position, moving into the striker role from midfield.
Mijnans had been expected to start against Twente after scoring a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Sparta the previous weekend. Instead, Pepi retained his place before his early injury forced the tactical change.
As highlighted by PSV Watcher Jeroen Kapteijns, the situation leaves Bosz with a narrow pool of experienced attacking options at a crucial stage of the season.
Millions Invested But Little Availability
The absence of Pléa and Lammers is particularly notable given the money PSV invested in strengthening their squad.
Both players arrived with the expectation of providing additional depth and competition in attack, but neither has been able to contribute regularly so far.
That has left PSV once again dealing with a problem they faced last season, when injuries affected their options at centre-forward.
Bro Hansen remains an option, but his age and limited senior experience mean Bosz is reluctant to accelerate his development by placing him into a demanding match situation.
For now, that leaves Mijnans and Til carrying much of the responsibility in the central attacking role.
The defeat at Twente underlined the difficulty of the situation. After falling behind, PSV recovered through two Guus Til goals, but they ultimately lost 3-2 after conceding twice late in the second half.
With Pepi now joining Pléa and Lammers on the injury list, the international break gives PSV some time to assess the extent of the latest setback and consider how best to manage their depleted attacking options when domestic football resumes.
