BERLIN, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Schalke's defender Atsuto Uchida will miss the rest of the season owing to a persistent knee injury, coach Andre Breitenreiter announced on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Japan international hasn't made one appearances this season so far after undergoing a surgery on his patellar tendon in the last summer.

The defender is still in his homeland and "will spend more time in Japan," Breitenreiter said. "It is important that he fully recovers. It is unfortunately a fact that he will no longer plays a role in the second half of the season."

Atsuto Uchida joined the "Royal Blues" in the summer 2010 to score once in 104 appearances. He is moreover since 2008 part of Japan's national team where he marked two goals in 71 caps.

Schalke sit on the seventh place of the standings. They will host Hamburg at the 24th round of Bundesliga on Wednesday.