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By: Peter Akinbo
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso says Victor Boniface is expected to make a full return to the German Bundesliga side in April after an injury that has kept him out of action for three months, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The star forward last played and scored for Leverkusen in a 4-0 home win over VFL Bochum on December 20.
Boniface has been outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen since he joined from Belgian club Royale Union SG last summer. The Nigerian striker had a great run that saw him register 16 goals and eight assists in 23 appearances across all competitions for Die Werkself.
His performances earned him a place in Jose Peseiro’s team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but he was ruled out and had to be replaced by Terem Moffi because of an adductor injury.
Following his injury, he had a successful surgery, and that has kept him out of action since last December. Since his surgery, Boniface has frequently shared pictures of himself during physiotherapy sessions.
Despite his absence, Die Werkself have been superb. They remain the only team in Europe’s top five leagues that have not lost a game, and have a 10-point advantage over champions Bayern Munich with nine games left.
Bayer Leverkusen play Qarabag in the second leg of the Europa League on Thursday (tomorrow), and ahead of the fixture, Alonso has issued an update on Boniface’s situation.
“His (Boniface) development is very good; the recovery is going in the right direction. That’s very positive,” Alonso said, per Bild.
“We expect Boniface soon, I don’t know, but it won’t be until May, maybe April, and that’s very good for us, having Boniface back. Boni works very well, with great professionalism, twice a day. We need players who have the desire to be back.”
Should Boniface return to the team in April, it will be a huge boost for the league leaders, as they have five games that month, including the DFB-Pokal semi-final versus Düsseldorf. It would be a long run of important games, and they would need their best legs to avoid slip-ups and claim their first-ever Bundesliga title.