Overview
- Eight first-team players — Loris Karius, Nikola Katic, Hasan Kurucay, Vitalie Becker, Ron Schallenberg, Soufiane El-Faouzi, Kenan Karaman and Moussa Sylla — rejoined training on Tuesday and were reported fit.
- Coach Miron Muslic had granted the group four extra days of leave during the winter break.
- Midfielder Paul Pöpperl recovered from illness and returned to first-team training.
- Schalke are preparing at home rather than in a camp, with a friendly at third-tier VfL Osnabrück set for Saturday, Jan. 10.
- The league campaign resumes away at Hertha BSC on Jan. 17 at 20:30, and Karaman says the dressing room is concentrating on points rather than discussing promotion.