Assan Ouédraogo is getting closer to returning to FC Schalke 04’s professional team. Blendi Idrizi is already fit again.

Assan Ouédraogo knows the drill: when FC Schalke 04’s professional training session ended, his working day began, as it has so often in recent weeks. Together with rehabilitation coach Nico Wamig, he returned to the Royal Blues’ training ground – but unlike last week, he didn’t just run lap after lap.

This time, the 17-year-old midfielder was even working with the ball again. Ouédraogo is making progress. However, a return to the team is still out of the question. Schalke are taking a cautious approach with the highly sought-after Ouédraogo, who could bring in millions in the summer.

Idrizi back in training – Karaman ill

Ouédraogo suffered a torn anterior syndesmosis during the U17 World Cup in November 2023. Schalke had vaguely hoped that their top talent would be able to get back on the ball 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 Friday evening’s 1-4 debacle in Kaiserslautern. Blendi Idrizi, who missed the game at Betzenberg due to illness, is fit again and available for the match against Eintracht Braunschweig (Saturday, 1 p.m./Sky). Kenan Karaman is currently sidelined due to 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 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 five goals and provided five assists in 23 games in the regional league. He is a left-sided player but can also play in the center.

Roda manager Rob Servais said of Müller: “He is a versatile left-footed player who has been on our radar for some time. He fits in well with our group, works hard and is a real team player.” Müller is the second player to leave the U23s this winter – professional goalkeeper Justin Heekeren (now Maasmechelen) played seven games for the U23s in the first half of the season.