Thursday, 2nd January, 2014
Schalke star Julian Draxler is not overly confident of being fit in time for the resumption of Bundesliga hostilities.
Draxler is sidelined with a partial tear of a tendon in the back of his left thigh, but was initially expected to be back in training over the winter break.
However, the injury, picked up in a Champions League game against FC Basel, appears to be slow in healing.
Draxler is expecting to fly out with Schalke for a friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt in Abu Dhabi this week, but sounded less optimistic about playing the first Bundesliga game of 2014 against Hamburg.
relatedNewsStory
"I certainly hope that I make it [for 26th January]", he told Bild. "However, I am unhappy with the current prognosis.
"We anticipate that I will fly out with [Schalke]. But no matter what the decision is, for me, I am heading not towards team training but rehabilitation."
Draxler has been the subject of many a transfer approach in the past and is expected to once again be a hot topic in the winter.
Arsenal are heavily linked with Draxler, who admires the Gunners' style of play, while Chelsea were tipped to be planning a swap deal involving Kevin De Bruyne.
Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.
