Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has stated that Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface would have to prove his quality again to get a starting shirt back from Patrik Schick, Soccernet.ng reports.
Boniface has been quite prolific for Bayer Leverkusen since he joined the club from Royale Union SG last year. His brilliance ensured that he displaced Schick who joined the club in 2020.
Boniface ended last season with 21 goals and ten assists in 34 appearances. It could have even been more, but for an injury he sustained at the turn of the year. And when he returned to action, Xabi Alonso often preferred Schick to him.
This season, Boniface started well, registering seven goals and one assist in 15 games. However, he sustained a hamstring injury in late November, and that has seen him miss eight straight games.
Meanwhile, Schick has taken advantage of the moment and has been scoring for fun. The Czech star has registered nine goals in his last eight games for Die Werkself. In Bayer Leverkusen's last game against Freiburg, he scored four goals to help them seal a 5-1 win.
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Following Schick's performance, Leverkusen boss Alonso was questioned on Boniface's chances of reclaiming his starting shirt when he returns from injury.
Photo credit: Bayer Leverkusen X
The Spanish tactician revealed that he would decide who qualifies to start based on their performances in training and in game situations.
“I have difficulty in choosing players to use in all the positions, I like to have it,” Alonso told Oma Akatugba.
“What we want is that everyone is fighting for a position to get better and help them team.
“We'll have so many games, all the players will have their moments. But the most important is that the same way that Patrik Schick is in good form, we want to have Boniface in good form as well. We want him fully fit that he forgets his injuries, he is working hard on the pitch, and scoring goals.
“Boniface and Schick decide who plays because the one that deserves and proves himself usually gets the chance.”
Boniface is expected to return to action in January. And with the flurry of games coming up, he can fancy his chances of getting a lot of game in the second half of the season.
