How do you coach the striker to come short without losing the threat behind?

I’d make the defender’s position change the striker’s decision. Set up a 3v3 or 4v4 directional game with a striker and allow the striker to score in two ways: receive to feet and combine, or run beyond to receive behind. The defender can start tight, drop off or step into midfield. Now the striker has to read something rather than make a rehearsed movement. The reference I’d give is: “What does the defender not want you to do?” If the defender is tight, there may be space behind. If they drop, coming short can give you time to receive or create space for someone else. At 9v9, I’d want the striker to understand the relationship between coming short and threatening depth. Both movements matter; the timing decides which one helps.