Werder Bremen head coach Daniel Thioune has suggested that Victor Boniface could miss out on the matchday squad for their upcoming Bundesliga clash against FC Augsburg.

'I'll have to make decisions' - Werder boss hints Boniface risks being dropped against Augsburg

Boniface, who arrived on loan during the summer transfer window, has endured an inconsistent campaign hampered by injuries, most recently recovering from a knee problem.

The Nigeria international returned to the squad last week but did not feature in Bremen’s 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart.

While his return marks significant progress in his recovery, Thioune has indicated that the forward still faces a battle to secure a place in the squad for the Augsburg encounter.

Speaking ahead of the clash against Augsburg, Thioune suggested that competition for places has intensified with the return of key players, including Marco Friedl and Marco Grüll.

"It was important for Victor to be back. It worked well last week," Thioune said via Bild. "With the return of Marco Friedl and Marco Grüll, I’ll have to make decisions that go against one or two players."

The Bremen boss also addressed whether Boniface’s physical style could be particularly suited to facing Augsburg, known for their robust approach. 

While acknowledging the Nigerian forward’s strengths, Thioune emphasised that he has multiple options with similar attributes.

“I also have other physically strong strikers in the squad. For example, we’ve really enjoyed having Salim Musah. Jovan Milosevic has a similar profile," he added. 

Thioune added that final decisions will depend on performances in training, stressing that no player is guaranteed a place.

"So I’ll wait for the final training session. Everyone has to earn their place in the squad and their playing time," he concluded. 

With competition intensifying in attack, Boniface will be keen to impress in training as Bremen aim to secure their Bundesliga status.

Adeyemi Adewale