Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface's return to action after the winter break has been delayed following a setback in his recovery.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that the Nigeria international suffered a relapse as he was nearing full fitness.
Boniface was absent from Leverkusen's first match of the year, a 2-0 friendly victory over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.
The forward has not featured for the German side since sustaining an injury during the November international window while on duty with Nigeria. He last played competitively on November 9, featuring in Leverkusen’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw against VfL Bochum.
Prior to his spell on the sidelines, the former Union St Gilloise man had been in fine form, netting eight goals in 15 matches across all competitions.
He resumed training with the main squad before the Christmas break and was expected to make his comeback in Leverkusen's first Bundesliga match of the new year against Borussia Dortmund on Friday.
However, the recent setback has derailed those plans.
Could Boniface even miss March internationals?
Xabi Alonso did not provide a specific timeline for Boniface's return, leaving doubts about when the striker will be fit to rejoin the squad.
While there had been optimism that the striker would return in January, his recovery will now take longer than initially anticipated.
Boniface’s absence will not only impact Bayer Leverkusen but also the Nigerian national team.
The Super Eagles resume their quest for World Cup qualification in March after a terrible to start to the qualifiers, and Boniface's form is key to that campaign.
Leverkusen recently signed Argentine forward Alejo Sarco from Vélez Sarsfield.
The acquisition of the young striker suggests that the club is bolstering its attacking options, potentially as cover for Boniface if his recovery is prolonged.
