Victor Boniface eyes bigger role at Leverkusen after Christian Kofane injury

Victor Boniface could receive more opportunities at Bayer Leverkusen after Christian Kofane suffered a muscle injury that is expected to keep him out of action for several weeks.

The setback opens the door for Boniface to become the primary backup to Patrik Schick as Leverkusen prepare for a demanding schedule across domestic and European competitions.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga encounter with Mainz 05, coach Carles Martinez acknowledged that Kofane’s absence would create opportunities for other attacking players.

“Of course, we have Patrik, with whom we are very happy, but naturally we will also need other players, because we will be playing a lot of minutes in the coming weeks and everyone will be important”, Martinez said.

Boniface has struggled for regular playing time this season, making only a brief appearance against Elversberg on the opening weekend. Despite his limited minutes, he provided an assist in that match.

The Nigerian striker has continued training with the first team, and Martínez confirmed that his knee is in good condition. However, his lack of match fitness means the coaching staff will need to manage his return carefully.

“Boni is here, and his knee is fine. We’ll see. And of course, the same applies to tomorrow: if everything goes well, he’ll be in the squad”, the coach explained.

Boniface is not eligible for Leverkusen’s European campaign until the end of January 2027, limiting his opportunities to domestic competitions. Nevertheless, Kofane’s injury could give him valuable minutes as Leverkusen navigate a congested fixture list.