Former Werder Bremen striker Ailton Gonçalves da Silva says he’s confident Victor Boniface will bounce back and find his form despite a difficult start to life at the club, SportPremi reports.
The Nigerian forward joined the club in the summer on a season-long loan deal from Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen, having had two previous moves break down.
A potential switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in January broke down after the club opted to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.
A second move to Italian side AC Milan last summer also fell off after the Nigerian striker did not pass the club’s medical check.
Since joining Werder Bremen, the 24-year-old has made 10 league appearances without scoring, although he has provided two assists in these games.
The Super Eagles star has come under fire for his recent dip in form and now risks being left out of Nigeria’s final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month, despite making the provisional list.
Werder Bremen recorded a 1-1 draw against FC Koln last weekend in the German Bundesliga, which has left them in ninth place on the standings .
Die Werderaner will face Hamburg in a league game on Sunday, hoping to secure a first win in three outings.
Ailton tips Boniface to bounce back
Werder Bremen legend Ailton Gonçalves who enjoyed a very impressive spell at the club during his playing days also endured a difficult start to life at the club.
The Brazilian is confident in Boniface’s abilities and believes he will be back to form soon.
“I trust him. He won’t have a career at Werder like mine, but I absolutely believe he can play a good role here. He’ll score a few more goals. Maybe even one in the derby”, the Brazilian stated.
“There’s a lot of talk about his lack of form and his weight. If he scores, the fans and his teammates will believe in him again. A positive result is key.
“My first six months were very difficult for me until Thomas Schaaf took over in May 1999.”, he continued.
“During those six months, I didn’t understand the system and I was also carrying a few extra kilos.
“He has to train hard now and his teammates have to help him. But in the end, only he himself can score the goal.”
Boniface will back himself to open his account for Werder Bremen when they visit Hamburg in their next league match on Sunday.
