07.11.2015 16:58 h

Rising star Sane poised for Germany debut

Schalke's rising star Leroy Sane is set for a big week in his fledgling career ahead of Sunday's crunch derby against Borussia Dortmund after being called into Germany's senior squad.

The talented 19-year-old has attracted the attention of Premier League sides Liverpool and Arsenal with match-winning goals for Schalke in Germany's top-flight this season.

He is poised to play in his first Ruhr Valley derby at the Royal Blues' arch-rivals Dortmund and could make his senior international debut against France in Paris next Friday, or four days later against the Netherlands in Hanover.

"We've already got to know him in our youth selections and he's one of the big positives to have emerged from the current season," said Germany's head coach Joachim Loew after calling up Sane on Friday.

"He's quick, technically gifted and he likes going one-on-one with his opponents, while he's totally easy-going. We can see his enormous potential."

Sane's rise has been meteoric despite making just 25 Bundesliga appearances before his senior call-up.

The eldest son of ex-Senegal striker Soulemayne Sane and former German Olympic gymnast Regina Sane-Weber, Leroy joined Schalke's academy aged nine while both of his younger brothers play for the club's junior teams.

He broke into the senior Schalke side by making his German league debut in April 2014 -- just three months after his 18th birthday.

"Leroy has inherited great genes from his father," said Schalke's director of sport Horst Heldt at the time.

"We hope that he'll follow in his footsteps."

Sane jnr scored his first goal on only his fourth league appearance, then produced a superb strike away to Real Madrid last March in the Champions League which alerted the rest of Europe to his precocious talent.

Two of his four league goals this season have been match-winners, while he rescued a point with an equalising header in last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Ingolstadt.

His length-of-the-pitch sprint led to Schalke's third goal by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in a 3-0 rout of Werder Bremen on the season's opening day, proving he can create as well as finish chances.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Dortmund's top scorer with 13 goals in 11 league games, while Sane is Schalke's top hot-shot, scoring four times from the right wing.

He can play either on the wing or as a striker.

His big hair matches his confidence, but he admits to being nervous about Sunday's derby as Schalke attempt to avenge their 3-0 defeat at Dortmund last February.

"I'm a bit nervous, but I'm obviously really looking forward to the game, it's one of our most important of the season. I am really fired up for the derby atmosphere," he said.

"I'm obviously very happy that I have scored four goals already.

"I don't see it as a burden, I see it more as a challenge and my aim is to score eight goals this season.

"That's what I said at the start of the season. I didn't want to set my aims too high, but so far, it's been going very well.

"I'll obviously try my best to score another goal. Maybe I can even get two for once. But it will definitely be a very, very difficult game against Dortmund."

Dortmund, who started the weekend second, have won their last six games while fifth-placed Schalke are winless in their last five, but Sane says form counts for nothing when neighbours clash.

"None of that matters in the derby. Every player is fired up, everyone wants to win at all costs," said the teenager.

"We have to compete from the start and then take our chances.

"Then we'll start playing better in general and winning games again."