Julian Draxler returned to Schalke 04 training on Wednesday, after a two-month injury absence, to boost the Royal Blues for their Champions League clash with Real Madrid in a fortnight.
The 20-year-old Germany star has been out since tearing a thigh muscle in December and having taken a full part in Wednesday's training could feature off the bench in Saturday's Bundesliga clash at second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Draxler has won 10 caps for Germany and was linked to a switch to Premier League side Arsenal in January.
If Draxler does not play at Leverkusen, there is always next Friday's Bundesliga match at home to Mainz before Schalke host Cristiano Ronaldo's Real in the Champions League last 16, first-leg clash on Wednesday February 26.
"He could do everything we asked of him today without any problem," said Schalke coach Jens Keller.
"But I think Saturday will be a bit too soon for him, but we'll see."
Schalke are also waiting on the fitness of defensive midfielder Roman Neustaedter, who heavily bruised his knee in the 2-0 win over Hanover 96 last Sunday.
"I have to see how things go, I still have a bit of mild pain," said the midfielder.
Schalke will be without defenders Benedikt Hoewedes and Japan's Atsuto Uchida for the next few weeks, including the Real game, after the pair have both suffered thigh injuries, the club confirmed.
Meanwhile, Schalke have confirmed they have signed Germany defender Dennis Aogo until June 2017 on a permanent deal from Hamburg after the left-back joined the Royal Blues on loan last year.
Source: AFP
