Without its two regular goalkeepers, Schalke 04 will have to face FC St. Pauli in the top match of the second division. Ralf Fährmann will not be fit in time.
It is not yet Ralf Fährmann’s (34) season. The FC Schalke 04 veteran goalkeeper lost his regular place in goal for the Bundesliga relegated team to Marius Müller at the beginning of the season and is now struggling with Achilles tendon problems following the latter’s long-term absence.
According to information from this editorial office, Fährmann will therefore not be able to play next Saturday at FC St. Pauli (20:30, Sport1). First “Bild” had reported about it.
Fährmann had already missed the crazy 4:3 against 1. FC Magdeburg. Marius Müller, who started the season strongly, had injured himself during the emotional home victory and will be out for months with a torn tendon in the adductor area.
Now the way is clear for Fährmann to return to the Schalke goal, but it is not yet enough for the next game. The 34-year-old was still unable to train fully on Wednesday. The medical department of Schalke decided together with the goalkeeper not to take any risks and to target the next but one match at SC Paderborn (Friday, 29 September) as a comeback game.
Schalke likely to play Michael Langer against FC St. Pauli
Schalke coach Thomas Reis now has two options for Saturday’s match at FC St. Pauli. Veteran Michael Langer (38), who came on for Müller against Magdeburg and preserved the victory with a strong save in injury time, is considered the favourite for the vacant position in the S04 goal. But Justin Heekeren (22) is also internally considered fit to play and would be ready. The 20-year-old Justin Treichel is currently also taking part in S04 training, but is not a serious option for the starting spot.
Langer is nominally only number four for the Schalkers, but is highly valued within the club and the team. “Michi always gives full throttle in training at his set football age,” Reis praised him after the outing against Magdeburg. It was only his sixth in his sixth year at Schalke. The seventh should not be long in coming.