Schalke face Wolves without centre-back Metzelder

Schalke 04 coach Ralf Rangnick has said that Sunday's Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg is still too soon to bring centre-back Christoph Metzelder back after four weeks out with injury.

The 30-year-old, who won the last of his 47 caps for Germany in the Euro 2008 final, played in Schalke's 5-2 win over third division side Rot-Weiss Oberhausen on Tuesday as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

However Rangnick feels it is still too soon for Metzelder to return to Bundesliga action with the Royal Blues, who lie second in the table behind Bayern Munich only on goal difference.

"He should have been playing longer, so I do not think that he is really a topic for Sunday," said Rangnick.

Last season's German Cup winners Schalke have several other injury concerns just now in midfielders Jermaine Jones (upset stomach), Peer Kluge (thigh injury), Jan Moravek (pulled muscle) and defender Sergio Escudero (groin strain).