Schalke 04 General Manager Horst Heldt insists Kevin Prince Boateng is very important to their Bundesliga success this season.

Boateng has not played since that 5-0 thumping against Chelsea in the Champions League and his absence has been a talking point.

The Ghana international has been battling injuries and Heldt says him being 90% fit will be crucial for their campaign this season.

“He has a tremendous quality despite all these, especially during the phase in which we have to wrangle us with many casualties,” Heldt told Sportbild.

“We currently need every player who hangs purely for the club. Internally, we know assess how much Kevin as passes for all. A 90 percent fit Boateng can help us.”