Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has revealed that Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface is on course to make a return from injury ahead of schedule.
The Nigeria international has been on the sidelines since early January, when he suffered an abductor injury while camping with the Super Eagles ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024).
The forward went on to miss the tournament entirely, which Nigeria reached the final only to lose to hosts Ivory Coast, and has since returned to Leverkusen for rehabilitation.
Boniface has been training on his own in recent days and is now primed to return to full fitness for the crucial final few months of the season.
Victor Boniface to return by end of March
According to Alonso, Boniface is set to return ahead of schedule and could make his comeback as early as the end of March.
Addressing journalists ahead of Leverkusen’s Europa League round of 16 game against Qarabag, the Spanish coach said the striker could feature against Hoffenheim later this month or Fortuna Dusseldorf in the German Cup.
“If not Hoffenheim, then potentially against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the DFB Pokal on April 3,” he is quoted as saying by Get German Football News.
Victor Boniface was, and still remains, Bayern Leverkusen’s top scorer in spite of his injury. The 23-year-old has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in his debut season in Germany.
Victor Boniface linked with summer move
Despite his injury, Victor Boniface has been linked with a move away from Leverkusen in the summer following his impressive debut campaign so far.
The former Union SG forward is said to be a transfer target of Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, with the latter viewing him as a cheaper option to compatriot Victor Osimhen.
Tuttojuve also reports that Serie A giants Juventus are interested in bringing the Nigerian striker to Turin as they aim to overhaul their squad in the summer.
Meanwhile, Boniface is said to have a release clause of around €40 million and has four years left on his contract after joining Leverkusen just last summer.
