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

Three days before the hugely important home game against FC Schalke 04 against promoted side SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 1 p.m., Sky), coach Karel Geraerts can breathe a sigh of relief at least in terms of 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 striker Kenan Karaman, are back and 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 able to show himself with the professionals.

Once again, winter signing Brandon Soppy was not part of the squad. The right-back is currently not fit enough to train with the Schalke team.

He was not in the squad against Braunschweig and in Kiel. Before the Kiel game, S04 sporting director Marc Wilmots had 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 be of use to the team. He’s a young player, I don’t want to break him.” The 21-year-old will not be part of the S04 squad on Saturday against Wehen Wiesbaden (February 17) and in Magdeburg (February 24).

On a more positive note, top talent Assan Ouédraogo is set to make a comeback. The 17-year-old midfielder suffered a rupture of the anterior syndesmosis in his right foot during the U17 World Cup in November. After three months off due to his injury, he trained with the FC Schalke 04 team again for the first time on Tuesday. Ouédraogo is not yet an option for the next two games. A comeback in the home game against FC St. Pauli on March 1 is more likely.