Benedikt Höwedes was able to return to Bundesliga action following a 127-day long absence due to injury. “It wasn’t my intention to return as soon as today,” said Schalke 04’s World Champion after the 3-2 defeat against Bayer 04. “But I only played a couple of minutes.”
S04 coach André Breitenreiter brought on the 28-year-old in the 87th minute, as he was looking for a late strike to earn a draw against Leverkusen in the battle for Europe. It didn’t work out and Schalke have likely missed out on qualifying for next year’s Champions League competition, but Höwedes was able to see the positives from this game.
Höwedes: “I wouldn’t have lasted the full 90 minutes”
It was the first time this year that the S04 skipper was back on the pitch, after sustaining a muscle injury in his thigh during Schalke’s winter training camp.
“I wouldn’t have lasted the full 90 minutes just yet,” reported the defender after the game, who is on course to be fit for the European Championships in France this summer. Two years ago, when he suffered a similar misfortune, he only returned to action on the final matchday but played every minute of the World Cup winning campaign.
Benedikt Höwedes was able to return to Bundesliga action following a 127-day long absence due to injury. “It wasn’t my intention to return as soon as today,” said Schalke 04’s World Champion after the 3-2 defeat against Bayer 04. “But I only played a couple of minutes.”
S04 coach André Breitenreiter brought on the 28-year-old in the 87th minute, as he was looking for a late strike to earn a draw against Leverkusen in the battle for Europe. It didn’t work out and Schalke have likely missed out on qualifying for next year’s Champions League competition, but Höwedes was able to see the positives from this game.
Höwedes: “I wouldn’t have lasted the full 90 minutes”
It was the first time this year that the S04 skipper was back on the pitch, after sustaining a muscle injury in his thigh during Schalke’s winter training camp.
“I wouldn’t have lasted the full 90 minutes just yet,” reported the defender after the game, who is on course to be fit for the European Championships in France this summer. Two years ago, when he suffered a similar misfortune, he only returned to action on the final matchday but played every minute of the World Cup winning campaign.
