Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sports chief weighs in on the injury problems of Super Eagles attacker

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sporting Director Simon Rolfes has weighed in on Victor Boniface’s loan spell at Werder Bremen, Afrik Foot reports.

The 25-year-old had a brilliant debut campaign with Die Werkself, scoring 21 goals and providing nine assists in 34 games, winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.

However, injury problems curtailed his second season at the Bay Arena, but he managed to score 11 goals.

Boniface was linked with a move to AC Milan, but it was discovered that he had knee problems, so he ended up joining Werder Bremen.

Victor Boniface: Why Super Eagles striker exited Leverkusen for Werder Bremen

The move to Werder wasn’t without pain. Boniface immediately struggled with fitness problems, and weight gain soon followed.

After 11 games without a goal, he eventually decided to have surgery on a damaged knee cartilage, ruling him out of action until next season.

However, his rehabilitation has gone very well, and he could return to the pitch before the end of the season.

Leverkusen’s Sporting Director, Simon Rolfes, has revealed why the club allowed Boniface to join Werder Bremen despite his brilliant goal record.

“He was key in the season where we won the league, had an unbelievable performance,” the 44-year-old told Oma Akatugba.

“In the second season, he had to deal with a lot of injuries, and we spoke, because he needed more training to return to his best shape.

“And if you’re playing every three days, it’s difficult, because the reality is that you’re not training anymore, you’re just adjusting to the schedule.

“We had the feeling at the end of the pre-season that it’ll be difficult to get him fit here because of our schedule and we thought Werder would be a good fit.

“Turns out he had a problem with his knee unfortunately, and needed a surgery, which went really well and now he’s on his way to full fitness.

“That was why we sent him on loan to Werder Bremen,” the ex-Bayer midfielder concluded.

Werder Bremen’s head coach Daniel Thioune has clarified that he’s looking to integrate Boniface in the final week of April.