USA international Weston McKennie is expected to recover from the adductor complaint that kept him out of international duty in time for Schalke's clash with Werder Bremen at the Veltins Arena on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm CEST / 5.30pm BST / 12.30pm ET).
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McKennie sustained the injury after scoring his first Bundesliga goal in the Royal Blues' 2-0 success at Fortuna Düsseldorf on Matchday 7, and the 20-year-old should keep his place in the starting line-up after recently becoming one of the first names on coach Domenico Tedesco's teamsheet. Mark Uth, who is yet to score this season, should return to the first XI after making his Germany debut during the international break. Bastian Oczipka and Benjamin Stambouli have returned to full training following long-term injuries, but this game is too soon for them to return.
Bremen are one of the most in-form teams in Germany at present, their 2-0 triumph over Wolfsburg last time out their third win in the last four league outings, keeping Florian Kohfeldt's men fourth in the table. Influential defender Milos Veljkovic is available once more following suspension, while Claudio Pizarro and fit-again Martin Harnik are vying to accompany Max Kruse up front. Josh Sargent played for the USA against Colombia during the international break and is pushing for his Bundesliga debut, but fellow American Aron Johannsson and attacker Fin Bartels remain absent with injury.
Probable line-ups
Schalke: Fährmann (c) - Caligiuri, Sane, Naldo, Mendyl - McKennie, Mascarell, Bentaleb - Serdar - Burgstaller, UthAbsentees: Teuchert (thigh)Coach: Domenico Tedesco
Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp, Moisander, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Klaassen – Osako, Kainz, Kruse (c)Absentees: Bartels (ankle), Johannsson (fitness), Kapino (thigh), Käuper (ankle), Letterer (Pseudarthrosis)Coach: Florian Kohfeldt