Werder Bremen manager Horst Steffen has cast doubt over the availability of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Augsburg on Saturday afternoon.

Boniface, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has endured a difficult spell at the Weserstadion, with injuries hampering his progress and limiting his impact on the pitch. 

The forward missed Bremen’s last league outing against VfB Stuttgart after suffering yet another setback, further raising questions about his fitness and form.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Steffen admitted he could not provide a definitive update on the 24-year-old’s condition, stressing that assessments were ongoing.

"I can't assess it, I'm not a doctor," Steffen was quoted as saying by Deichstube. 

He added that the medical team was monitoring the situation closely but suggested Boniface remains doubtful for the trip to the WWK Arena.

 "I don't know where this is headed. I have to wait and see what happens in the next few days. Then I'll give an update," said the head coach of SV Werder Bremen .

Boniface has struggled to find his rhythm since joining Werder Bremen in the summer, failing to score in eleven league appearances. 

His dip in form ultimately contributed to his exclusion from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

With the winter break approaching, the former Union Saint-Gilloise forward will be eager to regain fitness, rediscover his scoring touch, and stablish himself as a key figure for Bremen in the second half of the campaign.

Adeyemi Adewale