Assan Ouédraogo’s return to the FC Schalke 04 professional team is getting closer. Blendi Idrizi is already fit again.
Assan Ouédraogo is familiar with the routine: as soon as the FC Schalke 04 professional squad has finished training, his working day begins, as has so often been the case in recent weeks. Together with rehabilitation trainer Nico Wamig, he once again entered the training ground of the Royal Blues – but he didn’t just do one lap after the other, as he did 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. Schalke are handling the highly sought-after Ouédraogo, who could bring in millions in the summer, with care.
Idrizi back in training – Karaman ill
During the U17 World Cup in November 2023, Ouédraogo suffered a rupture of the anterior syndesmosis. Schalke vaguely hoped 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 ground.
There have been few changes to the professional squad since the 4-1 defeat in Kaiserslautern on Friday evening. Blendi Idrizi, who was absent from the Betzenberg due to illness, is fit again and available for the game against Eintracht Braunschweig (Saturday, 1 p.m./Sky). Kenan Karaman is currently recovering from an illness but will return to team training during the week.
Kerkrade had Müller “on their radar for some time”
Schalke’s U23 team, which plays in the Regionalliga, has one player less. Left-footed Joey Müller (23) is moving to Roda Kerkrade, a Dutch second division club. Müller had played one game for Schalke’s second division team during the first half of the season (against Holstein Kiel) and scored five goals and provided five assists in 23 Regionalliga appearances. He is a left-sided midfielder, but can also play in the center.
Roda manager Rob Servais said of Müller: “He is a multifunctional left-footed player that we have had on our radar for some time. He fits well into our group in terms of character, works hard and is a real team player.” For the U23s, Müller is the second departure in winter – professional goalkeeper Justin Heekeren (now Maasmechelen) played seven games for the U23s in the first half of the season.