Schalke have been dealt a massive blow in their battle for Europa League qualification after Japanese right-back Atsuto Uchida was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
According to a report from German newspaper Kicker, Uchida will play no part in Schalke's remaining Bundesliga games due to a patellar tendon injury, which has sidelined him for the past two weeks.
The Japanese defender, 27, will not require surgery on the knee but will however need a special form of radiation treatment, similar to the case of Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger.
While doctors from the Japanese Football Association had originally advised for a surgical procedure to take place, Schalke had encouraged an alternate method right from the outset to treat the issue. This type of treatment reduces the risk of secondary damage in the knee, but may increase Uchida's recovery time.
Uchida joined Schalke 04 in the summer of 2010, and has since gone onto represent the club 152 times, scoring twice and recording eighteen assists.