Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has announced that defender Jonathan Tah will return to the squad for Saturday’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Monchengladbach. However, Nigerian forward Victor Boniface remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury.
Tah, a German international, missed Leverkusen’s midweek victory over Mainz due to a cold but has been cleared to feature in the starting lineup for the upcoming game. In contrast, Boniface, who has been sidelined since late November with a thigh injury, is still working on regaining full fitness and is targeting a return next week.
Alonso Provides Injury Updates
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Alonso shared:
“Jonathan is ready to return to the lineup tomorrow. As for Victor, his recovery is progressing well, but he won’t be part of the squad for Saturday’s game. He needs more time to train and fully recover, but his progress is encouraging.”
Alonso also expressed optimism about Boniface’s potential return in the near future:
“There’s a chance he could feature next week. We’ll see; we have to wait. He feels good, but for tomorrow, it’s still a bit too early. For midweek next week, there’s a possibility.”
Leverkusen’s Current Standing
Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, currently sit second in the league table with 38 points, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The return of Tah will bolster their defense as they aim to maintain pressure on Bayern, while Boniface’s return next week could add firepower to their attack, with the forward having already netted six league goals this season.
Leverkusen’s clash with Monchengladbach will be a crucial test as they look to close the gap at the top of the table.
