Niko Kovac hints at 'creative break' for Serhou Guirassy amid Borussia Dortmund striker's goal drought

Kovac has confirmed he is considering giving Guirassy a "creative break" after the Guinean international's Bundesliga goal drought extended to over a month.

Speaking ahead of Dortmund's DFB-Pokal second-round clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, Kovac addressed the forward's recent struggles in front of goal but offered his full backing, highlighting the 29-year-old's importance as the team's "attack leader." Guirassy's last league goal came on 13 September, and his dip in form is a growing concern for the club.

With Dortmund set to visit Frankfurt on Tuesday evening, Kovac was asked directly about his plans for his number nine. The manager admitted that a rest is a genuine possibility as he weighs up the best way to help his striker rediscover his prolific early-season form.

"It's possible, of course, that Serhou will get a little creative break," Kovac stated during his pre-match press conference. "But I still have a bit of time to think about tomorrow's game and the next games."

The consideration comes after another frustrating outing for Guirassy in Dortmund's late 1-0 victory over Koln at the weekend, where Maximilian Beier scored the decisive goal.

After a blistering start to his Borussia Dortmund career following his €18 million (£15m/$21m) summer transfer from Stuttgart, Guirassy has hit a difficult patch. His last goal in the Bundesliga came in a 2-0 win over Heidenheim on 13 September.

Since then, he has failed to find the net in four consecutive matches across all competitions. His season tally remains respectable, with four goals and one assist in seven Bundesliga appearances, and one goal in three Champions League fixtures. In total, he has scored six goals in 11 appearances for the club. However, the recent lack of production has become a prominent talking point, particularly as Dortmund look to compete on multiple fronts.

Despite acknowledging the slump, Kovac was unequivocal in his support for Guirassy, praising the striker's work ethic and overall contribution to the team's attacking play. The manager stressed that a goal drought is a normal part of any forward's career and that the player's role remains central to his plans.

"Of course, I also see that he's not scoring any goals at the moment. But I still see how hard-working he is, that he's giving his all," Kovac explained. "It happens in the life of a striker that you don't convert balls that you would normally score. He's our attack leader—he's the one who initiates everything there. That's why I'm supporting him."

Aside from the striker situation, Kovac provided a positive update on two long-term absentees, captain Can and winger Duranville. Both players are making good progress on their respective roads to recovery, but neither will be available for selection until after the upcoming international break in mid-November.

Kovac insisted the club will not rush their returns, prioritising their long-term fitness. "But no pressure: We really want to have 100 percent healthy and fit players," the manager emphasised.

While Kovac hinted at a potential rest for Guirassy, he also suggested there would not be widespread changes for the knockout cup tie against Frankfurt, stating: "Everyone is fine. There won't be any major changes."

This leaves the manager with a key decision to make. Should he opt to give Guirassy his "creative break," several players could be in line to start. Karim Adeyemi is a likely candidate, while Beier is pushing for a start after his match-winning cameo against Koln. Portuguese forward Fabio Silva is also nearing a return from an adductor injury, though Kovac confirmed he is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes.

Kovac must decide whether to play his primary striker through his difficult spell in a crucial DFB-Pokal fixture or provide a rest in the hope that it will reignite the form that made him one of the Bundesliga's most feared forwards at the start of the season.