Bundesliga: Werder Bremen coach urges caution over Victor Boniface fitness

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Werder Bremen head coach Horst Steffen has moved to allay concerns over Victor Boniface’s fitness after the Nigerian forward missed Thursday morning’s training session ahead of this weekend’s Bundesliga clash with FC St. Pauli.

Boniface was held out of the session as part of a pre-planned workload management routine, prompting initial speculation about a possible injury setback.

However, Steffen clarified during the club’s press conference that the decision was purely precautionary.

“We have to build Victor up carefully, and today it was better for him that he stayed in,” Steffen said.

“I expect he’ll be able to train again tomorrow and be part of the squad. We have to keep an eye on him for obvious reasons.”

Boniface has been a key figure for Bremen since arriving in the summer, and the club is keen to manage his recovery and conditioning following a demanding start to the season.

The 22-year-old is now expected to rejoin full training on Friday, with Steffen hopeful he will be fit and available for selection when Bremen host FC St. Pauli at the Weserstadion on Saturday afternoon.

Boniface’s fitness will also be of interest to Super Eagles selectors, as Nigeria continues to monitor the health of several key players ahead of the upcoming international window.