Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, has stated that his side would be without Super Eagles attacker Victor Boniface when they face Borussia Dortmund tomorrow, according to soccer news.
The 24-year-old forward was a force to be reckoned with at the Bay Arena last season, helping Leverkusen win a domestic double.
Boniface suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Nigeria in November, just as he was beginning to improve this season, and has been sidelined ever since. With the Bundesliga’s second half of the season starting tomorrow, Bayer’s head coach has stated that Boniface is still some way from full health.
“We must be patient so that he can regain his best form and we can better understand the problem. The most essential thing right now is that we support him.”
Normally, it is insufficient to cover the following week. I’m not sure when he’ll be returning. “It’s better for the doctor to ask, but Boni needs a little more time, I can say,” the former Real Madrid midfielder told BILD.
Along with Boniface, Die Werkself are dealing with another issue: their midfield mastermind, Granit Xhaka, is racing against time to recover from an ankle injury. “Xhaka could not do everything. We’ll make a decision. We need some more time with Granit. We’re hopeful, and there’s still time (more than 24 hours), but we have to wait. “We’ll see if he’s there tomorrow,” Alonso said.
If Xhaka misses the game, it will be a major setback for Alonso and his staff, given Dortmund has been a bogey team for Leverkusen over the last two seasons.
Victor Boniface has scored six goals and an assist in ten league games this season, but Bayer has done alright without him as well, with Patrik Schick leading the Line performed admirably in his absence, scoring nine goals in five starts. Leverkusen is in second place in the Bundesliga this season, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.