Boniface’s improvement could make Leverkusen a squad against Werder, says Alonso

BERLIN : Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface is recovering quickly after a car crash and suffered minor injuries and could play in Saturday’s league match against Werder Bremen, coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday.

Nigerian striker Boniface was a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident a day after he scored the winning goal in the German champions’ 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday and suffered minor injuries to his hands and feet.

“We will make a decision after today’s training,” Alonso said at a news conference. “He had a few days to forget it. I saw him yesterday and told him he was feeling better.”

“We will wait. If he feels better, he will come with us to Bremen. Today is training and the last test.”

Boniface has scored five goals in the league this season but missed Wednesday’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Brest.

Leverkusen is fourth with 14 points, three points behind the leaders and one win in the last three games.

They will also be without midfielder Amine Adli for several months after he broke his fibula against Brest and underwent surgery on Thursday.

“It’s a great loss for us. We will miss him,” Alonso said. “A very important player for the team and always having a big impact. This was the worst news. Now we have to wait a long time for him.”