Lincoln blow for Schalke

Lincoln will miss Schalke's trip to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Uefa Cup.

The gifted midfielder, whose fine form has helped Schalke to stay level on points with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich this term, is nursing a groin problem and will therefore be allowed to stay home while the rest of the team travels to Ukraine.

Lincoln's absence could open the door for a return for Danish international Christian Poulsen, who has recently struggled to make the starting line-up.

Royal-Blues coach Ralf Rangnick will also be without defender Marcelo Bordon (Achilles), whose place is expected to go to Mladen Krstajic as the tall Serbian has recovered from flu which sidelined him for last weekend's 3-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Veteran striker Ebbe Sand, who is expected to join Gerald Asamoah and Ailton up front, believes that the visitors should have the edge over the big-spending Ukrainians.

"We know that they are able to play proper football, but we have two advantages. They lack match practice and we have the first game abroad," said Sand.