Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso praises Victor Boniface's pre-season revival

Boniface, who arrived at Leverkusen from Union Saint-Gilloise last summer, was crucial in the club's historic unbeaten Bundesliga title run.

His dynamic performances and scoring prowess made him a standout player, but his campaign was disrupted by an injury that kept him out of Nigeria's CAF Africa Cup of Nations in January and February.

Despite his injury setback, Boniface returned to action before the end of the season, though he struggled to recapture the form that had made him a key asset.

Prior to his injury, the 23-year-old had impressed with 16 goals and 10 assists in just 23 matches.

This pre-season, Boniface has demonstrated significant improvement. While he did not find the net in recent friendlies, his training performances have been notably encouraging.

Alonso highlighted Boniface's progress, noting that the forward appears lighter and more agile.

"I am pleased that he has used the time effectively. After his injury, we lacked the opportunity for extensive training.

"Now, we see a Boni who is more athletic and sharp in the box," Alonso remarked to Liga Insider.

Leverkusen's season kicks off with a Super Cup encounter against Stuttgart on August 17, followed by their Bundesliga opener against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23.

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