Werder Bremen head coach, Horst Steffen confirmed that Victor Boniface is currently his first-choice substitute striker.
Boniface, the 24-year-old Nigerian forward, has impressed Steffen with his unique skill set despite not yet being fit enough for a starting role.
“Victor is a candidate where we all know what’s coming, and he has extraordinary skills,” Steffen said at a press conference. “That’s why I currently prefer him as the first substitute.”
The coach’s decision comes as Boniface continues to recover from fitness issues that have limited his starts this season.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old forward Keke Topp, who was once a regular in Werder’s attack during pre-season, has seen his minutes dwindle since the arrival of Boniface.
Also read: Why AC Milan Rejected Victor Boniface After Medical
His last Bundesliga appearance was a brief substitute outing in a 0–3 loss to SC Freiburg on September 14.
Topp has since been limited to a single outing with the U23 side. However, Steffen noted improvement in his recent training sessions, hinting at potential future opportunities.
“He has worked really well over the last two weeks. I have the feeling he is closer to match involvement again,” Steffen added.
With Werder often deploying Romano Schmid as a “false nine” due to Boniface’s fitness issues, the Nigerian’s growing influence off the bench could be key against Union Berlin’s robust defense.
