Home Premier League Arsenal Draxler and Howedes out until new year.

Draxler and Howedes out until new year.

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Schalke pair Julian Draxler and Benedikt Howedes have both been ruled out until the new year after sustaining respective injuries in the midweek Champions League  victory over Swiss FC Basel, as Schalke qualified for the knock out stage.

Draxler, who has been a target for various Premier League clubs over the past few months, came off in the game with a hamstring injury and will most certainly miss the final two games before the annual Bundesliga winter break commences.

The German playmaker has enjoyed a successful period with the Bundealiga side after bursting onto the scene last year, and looks set to stamp his mark during Germany’s FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil, as Sami Khedira looks set to miss out on the showpiece in South America.

Draxler will be joined on the sidelines  by fellow German international centre-back Benedkit Hoewedes, who tore his right hamstring in the same match. The pair will sit out Sunday’s home match against Freiburg and the away trip to Nuremberg on December 21, which will bring the Bundesliga calender year to an end.

Under fire manager Jens Keller, who has been told a decision on Draxler’s future will be made over the winter break.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool have expressed an interest in the German youngster, with Brendan Rodgers flying out to Germany to watch Draxler several times this season, including Wednesday’s win over the Swiss side.

Chelsea have also been interested in Draxler, and may use out of favour Kevin De Bruyne as bait for a possible transfer dealing, with De Bruyne recently linked with a January move to a Bundesliga club.

Arsenal have long been admirers of Draxler, but last month the player said he needed regular first team football ahead of the World Cup, which could open the door further for a move to Anfield.

Howedes himself has been a transfer target, with Tottenham Hotspur interested in the highly rated defender, and Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas may use Lewis Holtby to tempt Schalke to sell.

Schalke are sixth in the Bundesliga, but are 17 points behind leaders Bayern in the league table after some erratic form and have been knocked out of the German Cup.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

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