Schalke 04 captain Benedikt Howedes has admitted that coach Jens Keller had a tough task to follow in the footsteps of previous coach Huub Stevens.

After a slow start Keller has guided Schalke into fourth in the Bundesliga, with Howedes praising the new coach for not changing too much from the previous regime.

"The coach had a rather tough act to follow," Howedes told Bundesliga.com.

"The team was never thrown off course. We've always worked really well together."

Schalke host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.