Rodrigo Zalazar hasn't really arrived in the Bundesliga yet. Most recently, the Uruguayan was only granted the role of joker at FC Schalke - for two reasons.

Rodrigo Zalazar was one of S04's promotion heroes last season. The playmaker made 30 appearances in the lower house, starting 25 times and recording six goals and seven assists. Before the start of the season, Schalke were in good spirits that the 23-year-old would also play an important role in the Bundesliga.

After the first fifth of the season, however, the balance sheet looks expandable. Although Zalazar was used in all games, he recently had to be content with substitutions in the 2nd half. At the start of the season, when he was in Frank Kramer's starting XI, he was substituted no later than the 70th minute.

According to the WAZ, Zalazar is said to have deficits in stamina within the club, which should explain his recent assignments, which have been getting shorter and shorter. The 23-year-old has a fighting style of play, which is why he also has to lose more grain than many other professionals.

However, his physical deficits are only half the truth as to why Zalazar did not get the chance he had hoped at Schalke. Because even if Dominick Drexler is controversial with a large part of the S04 supporters, the performance of the former Cologne native is at least solid. In this respect, it is understandable that Kramer initially relied on Drexler in the starting XI - who thanked him with an assist against Stuttgart and a goal against Bochum.

With Zalazar not bringing enough speed for the wing positions, there's basically no choice for Kramer but to bench him behind Drexler. After all: After his substitutions, Zalazar was able to bring new steam into the Schalke game - although it would be good if he was substituted on earlier than against BVB, where he only came into play in the 81st minute.

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Schalke: Why Rodrigo Zalazar is only a substitute.