Werder Bremen Deny Season-Ending Surgery Reports for Boniface

Werder Bremen have moved to dismiss reports that striker Victor Boniface is set to undergo season-ending knee surgery, insisting the Nigerian forward may yet feature again this season.

German outlets Kicker and Sport Bild had claimed that Werder, Boniface, and parent club Bayer Leverkusen had agreed the 25-year-old should step away from the spotlight and undergo surgery.

However, Bremen released a statement confirming that Boniface is currently in Innsbruck, Austria, awaiting an appointment with a specialist on January 8.

While the club acknowledged that Boniface will not be available in the immediate future, they stopped short of ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

His fitness struggles and off-field controversies have nonetheless left him out of favour with head coach Horst Steffen, and his prospects of returning to the first team remain slim.

Boniface has yet to score for Werder since joining on loan, and his absence has compounded Bremen’s attacking woes. With Keke Topp also goalless in the Bundesliga this season and being actively shopped to other clubs, Werder are expected to seek reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Despite the denial of surgery reports, Bremen appear resigned to planning without Boniface as they battle to climb away from the lower reaches of the Bundesliga table.