Struggling Schalke 04 were boosted on Sunday by news their US midfielder Weston McKennie escaped serious injury in their Bundesliga defeat to Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old McKennie had to be helped off in clear distress after being fouled by Bayern star James Rodriguez in Schalke's 2-0 defeat on Saturday.

However, a scan has revealed McKennie "only" has heavy bruising to his lower left leg and will not be sidelined for long, as had first been feared, but misses Schalke's next Bundesliga game against Freiburg on Tuesday.

Schalke, who drew their opening Champions League game with a 1-1 drae at home to Porto last week, are bottom of the Bundesliga after losing all of their first four games this season, despite finishing second to Bayern in 2017/18.