PSV Injury List Grows Again as Lutsharel Geertruida Leaves Netherlands Camp

Early return to Eindhoven

PSV have suffered another setback during the international break. Versatile defender Lutsharel Geertruida was unable to continue with the Netherlands' preparations and left the training camp on Friday, returning to Eindhoven with what the club describe as a minor injury.

The 25-year-old, a summer signing for the reigning Dutch champions, will play no further part for his country this window. The extent of the problem is not considered serious, but PSV have yet to confirm whether he will be fit for the trip to sc Heerenveen when the Eredivisie resumes in two weeks.

A busy treatment room

Geertruida's return lands on an already stretched medical department. Ricardo Pepi had already been ruled out of upcoming matches after suffering an injury in the defeat to FC Twente, while Sami Ouaissa, Sam Lammers and Alassane Plea have spent the past week working their way back to fitness. Right-back Kiliann Sildillia remains sidelined, and midfielder Jerdy Schouten is facing a significantly longer rehabilitation.

The arithmetic is uncomfortable for Peter Bosz. Six first-team players are at various stages of recovery, and the league leaders have not yet played a single match since the break began. Whatever cushion PSV built during a strong start to the season, they will need every bit of it if the treatment room stays this full through the restart.

Depth tested during the break

Peter Bosz had hoped the international break would offer his squad a chance to recover from a demanding opening to the season. Instead, 17 PSV players initially departed on international duty and two — Pepi and Geertruida — have already been sent home, leaving 15 still with their national teams.

For a club juggling a title defence and European commitments, losing players while they are away on international duty is the worst kind of disruption: the medical staff cannot control the workload, and the first assessment only happens once the player is back in Eindhoven.

For the Eredivisie leaders, the immediate focus is simple: get Geertruida assessed, and hope the count of walking wounded stops growing before league football returns.