Schalke return to training but maintain social distancing - in pictures

Dortmund adopted similar measures on Monday, with players training in pairs

Schalke players take part in drills at the club's training ground in Gelsenkirchen while maintaining social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo

Schalke players take part in drills at the club's training ground in Gelsenkirchen while maintaining social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo

Schalke players take part in drills at the club's training ground in Gelsenkirchen while maintaining social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo

Schalke players take part in drills at the club's training ground in Gelsenkirchen while maintaining social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo

Schalke players take part in drills at the club's training ground in Gelsenkirchen while maintaining social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo

Bundesliga football has been on lockdown since mid-March and will not be returning until at least the first weekend of May due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing being enforced to help stop the spread of the virus, footballers have been keeping fit at home in preparation for the return of competitive football.

However, Schalke have followed rivals Borussia Dortmund in returning to the training pitch, although social distancing is still being observed.

The photos released from their training ground in Gelsenkirchen show Schalke players going through their paces while maintaining plenty of space between each other and only two players per training pitch.

Dortmund adopted similar measures when their players returned to the training ground on Monday, with the likes of Emre Can and Erling Haaland spotted going through drills in pairs.

Meanwhile, footballers at German clubs have led the way in voluntarily taking significant pay cuts to save the jobs of other employees at their clubs, including the squads at Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Leverkusen, Gladbach, and Union Berlin.

To check out the pictures from Schalke's latest training session, browse through the photo gallery above. Move on to the next image by clicking on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.