Pander set for comeback

Christian Pander could return to action for Schalke against Bayern Munich.

The 23-year-old former German Under-21 international has been sidelined for the last 19 months after picking up a serious knee injury in a Bundesliga game at Stuttgart early 2005.

After undergoing a total of four operations, Pander has been training with the Royal Blues' first-team squad for the past two weeks and has sufficiently impressed Schalke coach Mirko Slomka to be under consideration for this weekend's line-up.

"He has made an excellent impression and was near to getting a look in last week," Slomka said on Friday.

Pander's inclusion would be a major boost to under-pressure Slomka, who will have to do without injured playmaker Lincoln, as well as long-term casualties Mathias Abel, Fabian Ernst and Gerald Asamoah for the visit of the Bundesliga champions.