Two months after sustaining a hamstring injury, Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface is getting close to playing again, manager Xabi Alonso stated prior to Tuesday’s Bundesliga home matchup against Mainz 05.
When Boniface, 24, returned from international duty with Nigeria in November, he had a thigh muscle problem.
Prior to the loss, he had eight goals from 15 games for Leverkusen this season across all competitions.
He finished as their leading scorer with 14 goals in 23 league games last season and was instrumental in Leverkusen winning their first Bundesliga championship.
After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last month, defender Jeanuel Belocian is still out, and attacker Amine Adli is currently healing from a fracture and will not play in the Mainz match.
“Adli won’t be able to rejoin the team until the end of January at the earliest but Boniface could return next week. He still needs plenty of time to train,” Alonso told reporters on Monday.
Alonso confirmed that Talisman Florian Wirtz, who was left out of the starting lineup and played about 25 minutes in Leverkusen’s 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund last week due to an internal issue, will start against Mainz.
Leverkusen’s six-game winning streak has moved them to second place in the league standings with 35 points, four behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Their form will be put to the test as Alonso’s team faces a busy stretch ahead with five games in 15 days. On January 21, Leverkusen will return to the Champions League.
“Sometimes it’s even good not to have much time and just keep playing,” Alonso added. “If we don’t give 100 per cent on the pitch tomorrow against Mainz, we’ll face problems (ahead).”
Mainz, in fifth position, is also playing well after winning three straight games, including a 2-1 triumph over Bayern in mid-December that was the Bavarians’ first league loss.
“They’re currently in very strong shape. They play boldly with the ball and with great energy. They have an excellent sense of when to press high and when to sit deeper,” Alonso said.
After Mainz, Leverkusen are set to host Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday.