Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface will likely not play again until after the Bundesliga’s winter break, having suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Nigeria.
Speaking in a press conference before Leverkusen’s Bundesliga game against Heidenheim this weekend, head coach Xabi Alonso was pessimistic about his forwards chances of returned before the end of 2024.
“We hope he can play again this year,” Alonso said, “but it will not be for six to eight weeks,” he added.
Boniface is Leverkusen’s joint-top-scorer this season, with seven goals in all competitions. Alonso’s side, unbeaten league and cup winner in 2023-24, have struggled to replicate their form, and currently sit fourth in the league, nine points behind Bayern Munich.
Boniface will miss a crucial part of the season and will miss the next round of the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup, in which Leverkusen face Bayern on 3rd December. He will also be missing for Champions League games against RB Salzburg and Inter Milan.
The injury comes at an inconvenient moment for Leverkusen. Amine Adli is also sidelined through injury, meaning that Alonso has just one available forward — Patrik Schick — available for selection.
(Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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