Howedes impressed by Di Matteo

Cape Town - Captain Bendickt Howedes believes new Schalke manager Roberto Di Matteo is a man "with a clear plan in mind" following their first week of training.

Di Matteo replaced the sacked Jens Keller last week after an almost two-year absence from the game, following his controversial sacking by Chelsea in 2012.

The Italian takes charge of his first game at the Veltins Arena against Hertha Berlin on Saturday and has been tasked with getting Die Königsblauen back into the Champions League places following an indifferent start to the season under Keller.

And Howedes, who makes his comeback from a groin problem against Hertha, believes Di Matteo's class has already started showing following their first set of training sessions

"[As captain] I'm the extended arm of the coaching staff," World Cup winner Howedes told the Bundesliga's official website.

"So of course Roberto Di Matteo sought me and the other senior players out so that we can help convey his ideas to the team.

"He is calm kind of person who gives clear instructions, has clear ideas and a clear style of play. With time he'll pass that on to us. He's got a lot of character.

"He works very precisely. Whenever I arrive at the training ground everything's already prepared for the next session. He has a clear plan in mind and he tells us what we’re going to focus on before the start of each session.

"During training we work very intensively and on various things [...] There are also clear instructions so that everyone knows what's what."