Schalke confirm extended downtime for Fährmann, Brunner, and Skarke
FC Schalke 04 officially confirmed grim prognoses for a trio of players injured during Friday night's 5-2 win over Hertha BSC.
Three players subbed off with injures during FC Schalke 04's big win over Hertha BSC on Friday night will all be expected to miss "several weeks" according to the latest information released by the club. S04 trainer Thomas Reis' designated "relegation battle" goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann will be sidelined with adductor issues. Attacker Tim Skarke - who scored a goal and provided an assist in the win - has a serious flesh wound in his ankle. Right-back Cedric Brunner is out indefinitely with a potentially separated shoulder.
Further examinations for both Skarke and Brunner are pending, but the club made clear that they do not expect either player back in time to face Freiburg next week. The same unfortunately applies to Japanese central defender Maya Yoshida, who had to miss out on Friday's encounter and probably won't be back until the end of the month. Schalke will already have to do without midfielder Tom Krauß next weekend on an accumulated yellow suspension. At present, there is no new news as to whether defender Moritz Jenz (re-injured in Friday's win) will have to miss more time.
The grim injury news comes at the worst possible time for the Königsblauen, who have by far the toughest remaining schedule of all the Bundesliga's current relegation candidates. Acting S04 sporting director Peter Knäbel sought to remain optimistic in a statement accompanying the dire news. Knäbel noted that the team had been facing injury-induced adversity all season and still exceeded expectations.
"We have already had to overcome problems and suffered many setbacks this season," Knäbel is quoted as saying on the club's website, "And we proved it again on Friday against Hertha that we can do it together. That gives us courage and a lot of strength for the last six match days."
Personal-Update nach #S04BSC: Der #S04 muss vorerst auf Ralf Fährmann (Adduktorenverletzung), Tim Skarke (tiefe Fleischwunde am Knöchel) und Cedric Brunner (Schulterverletzung) verzichten, die im Heimspiel gegen Hertha BSC ausgewechselt werden mussten.
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) April 16, 2023
Gute Besserung, Männer! 🙏