The player broke his rib in the 4-0 derby defeat against Borussia Dortmund last weekend, when he was replaced by Michael Langer.

The club also said defender William didn’t join the team training due to a slight cold, while Shkodran Mustafi, Nabil Bentaleb, Matthew Hoppe and Sead Kolasinac are completing an individual programme ahead of the league game against Stuttgart.

Schalke are bottom of the table in the Bundesliga with only nine points from 22 games.