Alonso: Boniface on the right track

12/03/2024 06:11 AM

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso continues to remain hopeful that Victor Boniface will return to action before the turn of the year.

The Nigeria international sustained a thigh injury in the 2-1 defeat to Rwanda on November 18 and has missed his club’s last two Bundesliga matches against Heidenheim and Union Berlin as well as the UEFA Champions League visit of RB Salzburg.

Die Werkself have five games in December before they go on a festive break and Alonso admits it is still too early to put a timescale on a return for Boniface, but says he is making good progress.

“We have hope. Every two or three days, tests are carried out to see how he is doing. He’s on the right track, but it’s too early to say when he’ll be back,”the Spaniard said in the pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal clash with Bayern Munich.

The 23-year-old striker has been in a rich vein of form for Alonso’s side this season, scoring six goals in 10 league appearances, although Patrik Schick has shone in his absence, finding the back of the net five times in their last three outings.

“He (Schick) doesn’t just score goals. He has done a lot of things very well, including against Union in a very intense game against a tough defence,” Alonso added.