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FC Schalke: 3 players who must step up in Weston McKennie’s absence

ByJosh Sippie|
15 December 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen: Soccer: Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 - Eintracht Frankfurt, 15th matchday in the Veltins Arena. Schalkes Weston McKennie lies on the grass after a duel with Frankfurt's Dost. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images)
15 December 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen: Soccer: Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 - Eintracht Frankfurt, 15th matchday in the Veltins Arena. Schalkes Weston McKennie lies on the grass after a duel with Frankfurt's Dost. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Schalke CB Ozan Kabak
(Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

1. Ozan Kabak

In just about any list about key players, you’re going to find Ozan Kabak. And his reign will only become stronger with each match, because he just keeps getting better. I’ve never been so happy with the quick and undeniable progression of a young player as I am with this teenage Turkish defender. David Wagner was right, he is absolutely one of the best defensive talents in Europe.

That said, he’s already isolated enough without Sane and Stambouli, and with Nastasic never able to stay on the pitch, McKennie was the man. He was the fill in for the other half of the centerback duo.

Meaning that whoever fills in now will be even less of a centerback than McKennie was. Maybe Wagner reverts to a back three, but even then, that heaps yet more pressure on Kabak to uphold his defensive duties.

And I couldn’t be more confident in his ability to do so. Whatever Wagner decides to do, I have no doubt that Kabak’s stalwart play has been a huge influence on that decision.