Nigeria striker Victor Boniface set to return from injury

Victor Boniface has been sidelined with an adductor injury since January but speaking ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s game against Qarabag, Xabi Alonso gave a positive update on the Nigerian’s fitness.

Alonso believes that Boniface, the club’s top scorer this season, will return at the end of March, which means he could be fit for the Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim on March 30, the game after the international break.

The 22-year-old returned to running duties last week, and is ahead of schedule. If not Hoffenheim, then potentially against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the DFB Pokal on April 3.

Boniface has 24 goals contributions (16 goals and eight assists) in 23 games across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season. The Nigerian forward, who was injured in the build-up to the Africa Cup of Nations, has hit the ground running in his debut season in Germany.

Bayer Leverkusen travel to Qarabag on Thursday evening, are in the DFB Pokal semi-finals, and sit 10 points clear of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, meaning B04, unbeaten under Xabi Alonso this season, are on course for a treble.