Fractures break Varela's season

Double blow
The 24-year-old sustained a hand injury as well as suffering a blow to the head before being substituted in the 58th minute of the German Cup match against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday night. Schalke went on to win the match 5-0.

Operation cancelled
A scan after the game revealed that Varela had broken a metacarpal bone in his left hand. He was due to undergo surgery in the night but, after a precautionary scan showed that the playmaker had also suffered a fracture of his cranium, the operation was called off.

Strong performer
Varela, who played all three group matches for Uruguay at this summer's FIFA World Cup finals, scored two goals in the first leg of the UEFA Cup second-round match against Legia Warszawa, which Schalke won 3-2 at the Wojska Polskiego stadium last week.