Assan Ouedraogo has been unlucky this season. The 17-year-old top talent from FC Schalke 04 missed 16 competitive games in his debut season due to various injuries. Most recently he was not in the squad due to adductor problems. Now the statements from coach Karel Geraerts give Schalke fans hope!
At the matchday press conference before the home game against Fortuna Düsseldorf, coach Karel Geraerts announced the absence of Ralf Fährmann, Derry John Murkin and Cedric Brunner. Not there: Assan Ouedraogo. The Belgian has good news about his personality!
FC Schalke 04: Usage of Ouedraogo not yet clarified
Ouedraogo’s appearance is still up in the air, as Geraerts said on Thursday (April 25), but the top talent is on the mend: “He trained with the team for part of the week. He is at 70-80%”. However, the coach would only consider playing if the 17-year-old has fully recovered from his injury: “It depends on the final training,” said Geraerts.
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However, the player himself also has an influence on the decision: “He has to tell me how he feels. If he no longer has any doubts about himself, then he will be in the squad. But only he has the answer to this question,” says Geraerts.
Ouedraogo is urgently needed against Düsseldorf
Ouedraogo is urgently needed for the game against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Fortuna is in third place in the table and, alongside Holstein Kiel, is the strongest team in the league. In the first leg, the Royal Blues lost 3-5 in Düsseldorf and showed a disastrous performance, especially in the first half. With his invigorating style of play, the 17-year-old could give Schalke’s offensive, which was rather weak in Elversberg, new impetus.
If FC Schalke 04 wins its home game against Düsseldorf, relegation is almost certain. With 39 points in the account, the S04 should no longer be able to be pushed out of a non-relegation place.