A return of Assan Ouédraogo to the FC Schalke 04 professional team is getting closer. Blendi Idrizi is already fit again.
Assan Ouédraogo is already familiar with this: when the training session for the FC Schalke 04 professionals was over, his working day began, as so often in recent weeks. Together with rehabilitation coach Nico Wamig, he once again stepped onto the Royal Blues’ training pitch – but he didn’t just do one running lap after another like last week.
This time, the 17-year-old midfielder even worked with the ball again. Ouédraogo is making progress. However, a return to the team is still out of the question, as Schalke are taking a cautious approach to the highly sought-after Ouédraogo, who could earn millions in the summer.
Idrizi back in training – Karaman ill
During the U17 World Cup in November 2023, Ouédraogo suffered a tear to his anterior syndesmosis. Schalke were vaguely hopeful that their top talent would be able to work on the ball again at the training camp in Portugal in January – but that was out of the question. Ouédraogo trained in the gym with a view of the training pitch.
Little has changed in the professional squad compared to the 1:4 debacle in Kaiserslautern on Friday evening. Blendi Idrizi, who was absent at Betzenberg due to illness, is fit again and available for the match against Eintracht Braunschweig (Saturday, 1pm/Sky). Kenan Karaman is currently having to cut back due to illness, but will return to team training in the course of the week.
Kerkrade have had Müller “on their radar for some time”
Schalke’s U23s, who play in the Regionalliga, are down one player. Left-footed Joey Müller (23) is moving to Dutch second division club Roda Kerkrade. Müller played one game for Schalke’s second division team in the first half of the season (against Holstein Kiel) and scored and set up five goals in 23 games in the Regionalliga. He is a left winger, but can also play in the center.
Roda manager Rob Servais said of Müller: “He is a multifunctional left-footer who we have had on our roster for some time. He fits in well with our group in terms of character, works hard and is a real team player.” Müller is the second departure for the U23s this winter – professional goalkeeper Justin Heekeren (now Maasmechelen) played seven games for the U23s in the first half of the season