Boniface and Schick injuries: Bayer Leverkusen coach considers Nathan Tella for new role

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso is considering Nigeria international Nathan Tella for a new role in attack ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga meeting with Dapo Afolayan's St. Pauli.

Alonso will not be able to count on the services of his first choice enter forward Victor Boniface who remains sidelined and undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a muscle injury during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and Rwanda's Wasps in Uyo on November 18, 2024.

Boniface's backup, Patrik Schick, is also unavailable for selection after sustaining an injury just 15 minutes after coming off the bench during the DFB-Pokal clash against Bayern Munich.

Schick has impressed in the absence of Boniface, scoring five goals in four games, to take his tally for the season to nine goals in eighteen all-competition appearances.

With their Moroccan forward Amine Adli still recovering from a broken fibula, Bayer Leverkusen are short on attacking options for the visit of St. Pauli. 

According to Bild, Tella is likely to replace Schick in attack, just as he did in the Cup match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Tella offers versatility as he is capable of playing as a left and right winger, attacking midfielder, wing-back and second striker.

However, he has mainly been used on the flanks since transferring to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023.

On the chances of Tella playing as a center forward against St. Pauli, Alonso said: "That was a solution for the moment. He is an important player and can play in many positions."

Since the start of the 2024-2025 season, Tella has started five of the twenty-one matches contested by the Bundesliga champions.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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