Bayer 04 Leverkusen head coach, Xabi Alonso, has revealed his side will be without Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface, when they take on Borussia Dortmund tomorrow, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 24-year-old forward was a force to reckon with at the Bay Arena last season, as he helped Leverkusen to a domestic double.
Just as he started to pick up form this season, Boniface suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Nigeria in November, and has been out of action since then.
With the Bundesliga lifting its curtains for the second half of the season tomorrow, Bayer's head coach has revealed Boniface is still some way off full fitness.
“We have to be patient so that he gets back to his best shape and we get a better feel for the injury. The most important thing now is that we support him. Normally, it's not enough for next week. I don't know when he'll be back. It's better for the doctor to ask, but Boni needs a little more time, I can say that,” the former Real Madrid midfielder said in quotes revealed by BILD.
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Alongside Boniface, Die Werkself face another problem as their midfield maestro, Granit Xhaka, is in the race against time for his recovery from an ankle injury.
“Xhaka couldn't do everything. We will make a decision. We need a bit more time with Granit. We're hopeful and there's still time, more than 24 hours, but we need to wait. We'll see if he's there tomorrow,” Alonso concluded.
Should Xhaka miss the game, it'll be a big blow for Alonso and his staff as Dortmund have been a bogey team for Leverkusen over the past two seasons.
Victor Boniface has scored six goals and an assist in 10 league games this season, but Bayer have been fine without him as well, as Patrik Schick has led the line wonderfully in his absence, scoring nine goals in five starts.
Leverkusen sit in second spot in the Bundesliga this campaign, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
