Dortmund missing Germany quartet for Schalke derby

Jon Fisher

Dortmund missing Germany quartet for Schalke derby image

Borussia Dortmund will be without a quartet of Germany internationals for Saturday's Ruhr derby clash with Schalke.

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Thomas Tuchel expected to be without Marco Reus and Mario Gotze for the trip to Gelsenkirchen but has been dealt another blow with the news winger Andre Schurrle and full-back Erik Durm, as well as former Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Rode, will also be absent.

Tuchel told reporters: "Erik Durm, as well as Andre Schurrle, is out. Schurrle came back from international duty with an injury while Durm sustained a muscle injury in training and is not ready.

"It's annoying when players return injured, especially with Marco Reus and Mario Gotze already out. Schurrle suffered a knock to his foot."

On the plus side, Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa is fit, while Tuchel will wait on Christian Pulisic to see how the United States international looks after a long midweek journey.

Tuchel added: "We will have to wait and see on Christian but he's definitely in the squad. It is complicated. The justified hype and the way opponents play takes its toll."

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The Dortmund fans will be hoping their favourites shape up physically for what Tuchel expects to be a draining Bundesliga contest.

He said: "We're going to Gelsenkirchen to win. It'll be tough but we're confident that we can pull it off.

"Schalke are a physical side, who play with a lot of heart. We have to emulate those virtues and play with at least the same verve."

Jon Fisher