Berlin, Nov 4 (IANS): Schalke's Julian Draxler will be sidelined until the second half of the German football league campaign due to a thigh injury.
Schalke will have to do it without the German international for the rest of the first half of the campaign. Draxler suffered the injury during the encounter against Augsburg and had to be carried off the pitch in the opening period, Xinhua cited from an official statement by the German football club.
An examination by world renowned doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt Monday confirmed Schalke's worst fears, as Julian Draxler partially tore his semimembranosus in his right thigh.
The midfielder will have to undergo a surgery in the coming days in Stuttgart.
Schalke sit currently in eighth place of the Bundesliga standings.
Roberto Di Matteo's men encounter Sporting Clube de Portugal in the group stage of the Champions League Wednesday.