Werder Bremen head coach Daniel Thioune has suggested that Victor Boniface could miss out on the matchday squad for their Bundesliga clash against FC Augsburg, as competition for places intensifies in the closing stages of the season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international, who is on loan at Bremen, has endured a disrupted campaign marked by injury setbacks, including a knee problem that sidelined him for a significant period.
He recently returned to the matchday squad but remained an unused substitute in Bremen’s 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart.
Boniface’s return to the bench last weekend marked an important step in his recovery after initially being ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery, before resuming training in late March.
However, Thioune has now warned that the forward is not guaranteed involvement against Augsburg, with the squad boosted by the return of key players.
“It was important for Victor to be back. It worked well last week,” Thioune said via Bild.
“With the return of Marco Friedl and Marco Grüll, I’ll have to make decisions that go against one or two players.”
The Bremen head coach also addressed whether Boniface’s physical style could influence selection against an Augsburg side known for their strength and intensity, but insisted he has several similar attacking options available.
“I also have other physically strong strikers in the squad. For example, we’ve really enjoyed having Salim Musah. Jovan Milosevic has a similar profile,” he said.
Thioune stressed that final decisions will depend on training performances, making clear that no player is guaranteed a place in the squad.
“So I’ll wait for the final training session. Everyone has to earn their place in the squad and their playing time,” he added.
Boniface, who last featured in a competitive match in December, will now need to impress in training as Bremen continue their fight to secure Bundesliga safety, with the club currently positioned in mid-table and still requiring points to confirm their status for next season.
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