FC Schalke 04 has started the ten-day training camp in Belek. Soccer teacher Thomas Reis wants to lay the foundations for a successful Bundesliga relegation battle on the Turkish Riviera by January 11th.
As expected, the long-term injured Rodrigo Zalazar and Leo Greiml were absent when the table bottom left. The 28 players traveling with them included midfielder Niklas Tauer, who was loaned out by league rivals FSV Mainz, and former U23 player Soichiro Kozuki, who had signed a professional contract shortly before the turn of the year.
Coach Reis hopes that various recently ailing professionals will return soon. Dutchman Sepp van den Berg is making further progress after a serious ligament injury and is expected to gradually return to team training in Belek.
His compatriot Thomas Ouwejan, who had to sit out in recent weeks due to a knee ligament injury, is also there. In addition, the Czech Alex Král should increase the load after recovering from back problems.
During the training camp, the team will play two friendlies against FC Zurich (January 7) and 1. FC Nürnberg (January 10). The dress rehearsal for the first Bundesliga game of the new year on January 21 at Eintracht Frankfurt will take place on January 14 against Werder Bremen.
Timothée Kolodziejczak and Nassim Boujellab, who has returned from the Finnish club HJK Helsinki after the end of the loan, are not an option for these games. Both professionals will take part in the training of the regional league team until further notice.