Werder Bremen will be without a key attacking option this weekend as striker Victor Boniface continues his journey back to full fitness. Head coach Daniel Thioune confirmed the on-loan Bayer Leverkusen forward will miss Sunday's pivotal Bundesliga clash against Cologne.

Boniface, who joined Bremen last summer, has been working his way back from a knee surgery he underwent in January. While he has recently rejoined team training, Thioune stated that the player's current physical condition simply isn't at the level required for matchday selection. "A player who is not able to play won't be in the squad," the coach said frankly, adding that the club had expected him to return in better shape.

Despite the straightforward assessment, Thioune also urged for perspective, hinting at underlying circumstances by saying, "Perhaps I also know a few more details about why things turned out the way they did." This suggests Boniface's road to recovery has been more complex than it appears, a common challenge for athletes returning from significant surgery.

His absence is a blow for a Bremen side locked in a tense relegation battle. Sunday's match against Cologne is a true six-pointer, with Bremen sitting just one point and one place above their opponents, who are hovering just above the direct drop zone. Every point is precious at this stage of the season, and not having a dynamic option like Boniface available limits Thioune's attacking choices in a must-not-lose fixture.