FC Schalke 04 prepares for the home match against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. In terms of personnel, things are looking better for coach Geraerts.

Three days before FC Schalke 04’s hugely important home game against newly promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 1pm, Sky), coach Karel Geraerts can at least breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to personnel.

Four players who missed team training on Tuesday were back on Wednesday and were able to complete the full program. Bryan Lasme, Dominick Drexler and Ralf Fährmann, who had previously been ill, as well as the injured attacker Kenan Karaman returned and are therefore ready for the home game on Saturday.

There was a small change in the goalkeeper position on Wednesday. U19 goalkeeper Luca Podlesch (school) was absent, but U23 goalkeeper Julius Paris was given a chance to show off for the professionals.

Winter signing Brandon Soppy was absent again. The right-back is currently not fit enough to train with the Schalke team.

He was not in the squad against Braunschweig and Kiel, and before the Kiel game, S04 sporting director Marc Wilmots surprisingly announced that Soppy would initially train individually. That was his decision. “I want him to improve until he’s really fit. Then he’ll bring something to the team. He’s a young player, I don’t want to break him.” On Saturday against Wehen Wiesbaden (February 17) and in Magdeburg (February 24), the 21-year-old will not be part of the S04 squad.

On the other hand, the imminent comeback of top talent Assan Ouédraogo gives hope. The 17-year-old midfielder suffered a torn anterior syndesmosis in his right foot during the U17 World Cup in November. After three months out injured, he trained with the FC Schalke 04 team for the first time on Tuesday. Ouédraogo is not yet an option for the next two games. A comeback in the home match against FC St. Pauli on March 1 is more likely.