Sebastian Polter switched from Bochum to Schalke last summer and should help the Royal Blues stay up in the league. With a suspected cruciate ligament tear, he will now be out longer.Image: dpa / Tim Rehbein
Bundesliga
Schalke actually wanted to lay the foundation for a strong second half of the season in the training camp in Belek in order to still be able to stay up in the league. However, the club has now published a message that probably every Schalke fan does not like to read: Striker Sebastian Polter is threatened with a longer break.
In the test on Saturday against Zurich (2: 2), the 31-year-old was substituted after just 15 minutes. Now the club has confirmed a suspicion of a cruciate ligament injury. Polter is already back in Germany and is undergoing further examinations.
Youth player should join the professional squad
Sports director Peter Knäbel initially wished the injured person a speedy recovery. He then commented on Schalke’s further plans: “In the coming days we will now analyze what effects Polti’s absence will have on our plans for the rest of the season.”
One thing is clear: Coach Thomas Reis only has Simon Terodde available as a clear centre-forward. According to “picture“Kenan Karaman or youngster Keke Topp should be considered as alternatives. However, Karaman feels more comfortable around a real centre-forward and sometimes moves to the sides.
With Topp, on the other hand, it is unclear how quickly he could adapt to the level in the professional squad and the Bundesliga. So far, the striker has played in the S04 U19s, scoring ten goals in eleven games and providing one assist. He still has to prove whether that’s enough to be successful in the Bundesliga. After all: Topp was substituted on in the promotion season in December 2021 at FC St. Pauli (1: 2).
According to “Bild”, sports director Knäbel should still have a winter budget of around 800,000 euros left. Accordingly, it is not completely out of the question that the royal blues would buy another winger and a center forward. The “Kicker” holds against it and does not assume further reinforcements. Accordingly, Schalke would have enough financial difficulties “to even cover the previous need for reinforcements”.
The solution with Topp, who could be promoted from the U19 to the professionals, therefore seems more realistic. Opposite the “Waz“explained Gerald Asamoah, Schalke’s head of the licensed player department: “We’ll talk to U19 coach Norbert Elgert and we’re hoping to get Keke. He’s done very well there so far.”
Asamoah goes on to say that Topp is a “super talented striker”. “He’s young, he can hold the ball. We hope he can give us something,” added the former DFB star.
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