Schalke updates: Krauß a definite out for Leipzig, Fährmann available to stand in goal
Having kept a close eye on FC Schalke 04's final pre-match squad training session before Saturday's relegation battle, Germany's main sporting tabloid published two updates on two key players this morning.
Germany's "Sport Bild" tabloid reports that two players listed as questionable ahead of Schalke 04's "do-or-die" relegation match against RB Leipzig now have different statuses after head-coach Thomas Reis' final squad training session on Friday. Midfielder Tom Krauß - who has played in all 33 of Schalke's league fixtures and started all but one - appears not to be an option with persistent issues associated with a thigh strain injured last week.
That piece of bad news is potentially balanced out with something positive. Schalke have remained most keen to get Reis' designated "relegation race keeper" back between the sticks before the season is out. According to the tabloid, chances are good that veteran Ralf Fährmann will be available to start over back-up Alexander Schwolow. Sport Bild claims that the 34-year-old passed a "stress test" on Friday.
Reis maintained an optimistic attitude about Fährmann at his midweek presser. Schalke have won three of the five matches since Schwolow took over for Fährmann after the latter suffered a muscle tear five weeks ago, yet have conceded 11 goals with Schwolow in net. Schalke will be playing a Leipzig side that already secured Champions' League qualification last week.
For his part, RB trainer Marco Rose hinted that there would be several rotations in his team. Leipzig still have another massively important match to contest after the season concludes. Namely, that of the DFB Pokal Final next weekend. Rose hinted that he himself might be starting his back-up keeper; the soon to depart Ørland Nyland.