'It's not the same' - Bayer Leverkusen striker insists he is not on the same level as Victor Boniface

Bayer Leverkusen attacker Patrik Schick has insisted that he is not on the same level as Victor Boniface because he's just returning from injury.

Boniface has made a blistering start to his Bayer Leverkusen career with a goal involvement of 21 from 21 outings across all competitions. 

The Nigeria international has won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for four consecutive months and was named Player of the Month for August. 

Only Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (18),  VfB Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy (16), RB Leipzig's Loïs Openda (10) and Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind (9) have scored more goals than Boniface in this season's Bundesliga.

Schick has yet to make his first start of the season but he is being considered to lead the attack from the off for the first time in thirteen months in Thursday's Europa League clash against Molde FK.

Schick doesn't yet see himself as Boniface's equal but is hoping that the situation will change in the near future.

Speaking to the media, including Kicker, at the pre-match press conference before the visit of Molde, he said: "I'm coming off a long injury, so it's not the same but I definitely want to push him. I also want to play.

"I'm a striker who has already scored more than 20 goals in a season, I don't want to sit on the bench."

Schick is widely expected to step into the shoes of Boniface when the latter heads for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January. 

Igho Kingsley

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