Schalke updates: Jenz remains out, duo to return
Moritz Lenz remains out for Schalke, but the Gelsenkirchen side will be boosted by the return of Cedric Brunner and Tim Skarke.
Schalke 04 coach Thomas Reis had both good and bad news to report on the injury front at his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday's Bundesliga clash with Mainz.
The game will come too soon for key defender Moritz Jenz, but Cedric Brunner and Tim Skarke are in line to return to the squad.
"Moritz Jenz is not available. We take things week by week with him. Cedric Brunner and Tim Skarke have been training all week, so there shouldn't be anything to stop them making the squad," Reis told reporters.
He added that Sepp van den Berg is in contention for a starting spot in central defense after coming off the bench to score in his comeback from injury in last week's 2-1 win over Werder Bremen.
"Sepp rewarded himself and us after coming on," said Reis.
"There's nothing to be said against playing him from the start."