FC Schalke 04 center midfielder Suat Serdar has missed the past couple of matches with an ankle injury, and he will be unable to play against his former club on Matchday 22.
After flashing potential in FC Schalke 04’s forgettable 2018-2019 season, Suat Serdar has become one of the Bundesliga’s biggest breakout stars in 2019-2020. The 22-year-old is the Royal Blues’ leading goal-scorer with seven goals and is one of the few midfielders in Europe who is as likely to dribble past an opponent as he is to record an interception.
Serdar has been missed over the past couple of games due to an ankle injury, and he will be unable to play this Sunday against his former club, Mainz.
According to Schalke manager David Wagner, Serdar and the other long-term absentees – Salif Sane and Benjamin Stambouli included – will be unable to play on Matchday 22 against the struggling Rheinland-Pfalz club. Goalkeeper Markus Schubert is unexpected to be available, while Jonjoe Kenny and Ozan Kabak are still toss-ups.
Wagner hopes that Serdar can play against RB Leipzig on Saturday, Feb. 22. Leipzig are neck-and-neck with Bayern Munich as the best team in the league after drawing with Die Roten last week, so Schalke absolutely need a healthy Serdar in order to get a point against Julian Nagelsmann’s awe-inspiring side.
Serdar has been in incredible form this season and is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the top goal-scoring midfielders in all of Europe. His excellent defensive work, dribbling ability, and technical quality in front of goal are amazing to see. Serdar’s absence in the lineup has hurt the attack greatly, with Amine Harit forced to do a little too much in starting attacks.
Hopefully a week of rest does Serdar well. Schalke can beat Mainz, despite them being a dangerous side, without him, but defeating Leipzig without Serdar would be a taller task.