Undermanned Lazio recall Perea

Lazio have ended striker Brayan Perea’s loan at Perugia to give coach Stefano Pioli more depth in the forward third.

Lazio recalled Colombian striker Brayan Perea from his loan deal with Serie B club Perugia on Monday to cover for Filip Djordjevic’s long-term ankle injury.

Djordjevic is set to have surgery on Tuesday after fracturing his ankle in Lazio’s 3-1 win over Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, which will leave the Italian capital club undermanned up front for the rest of the season.

In an effort to give coach Stefano Pioli more attacking options, with Felipe Anderson (knee) also injured, Lazio ended Perea’s loan stint with Perugia, confirming the decision in a statement on their website.

The concern for Pioli is Perea’s lack of goal-scoring form with the 21-year-old having hit the back of the net just once in 16 Serie B appearances this term.

Perea scored five goals in all competitions for Lazio last season, playing 27 games and starting 13.

Djordjevic has scored seven of Lazio’s Serie A goals in 2014-15, making him the club’s equal-leading marksman alongside Stefano Mauri, with Marco Parolo and Anderson both having struck five times in the Italian top flight.

Perea joined Lazio from Deportivo Cali in February 2013 after 11 goals in 54 league games for the Colombian Primera A club.