MLS
Inter Miami team news: Is Lionel Messi playing against Charlotte FC?
The Herons are still in pole position for the Supporters’ Shield but need a return to winning ways if they are to break the MLS single-season points record.
We’re now just three weeks away from the MLS regular season finale, Decision Day on Saturday, October 19. Inter Miami have looked destined for the Supporters’ Shield for months now, but there’s still plenty for the Herons to play for in their final fixtures.
The Herons take on Charlotte FC on Saturday, looking to bounce back from disappointing draws against Atlanta United and New York City FC. Miami need just two more wins from their four remaining games to guarantee the Supporters’ Shield, another ten points to break the single-season points record.
Head coach Tata Martino will need to decide whether to rest the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez before the playoffs. However the Miami boss insisted that Messi need to play regularly as he continues his return from injury.
“The more full games Leo [Messi] plays, the better he will get,” Martino told AS USA on Friday. “Obviously Leo doesn’t need to do different physical work in training, but rather a competitive rhythm every time he plays 90 minutes.”
“That gives me an idea that he’s going to be in very good shape for the playoffs, because in addition to the games he plays with us, he also has games with the national team. So we have a lot of hope that he’ll be in very good shape for the playoffs.”
Inter Miami face selection issues for Charlotte clash
The Herons are closing in on their first piece of silverware of the season, an impressive feat given the injuries that they have suffered throughout the season. Lionel Messi has only been available for around half of the MLS games to date, while Diego Martinez, Leonardo Alfonso, Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are sidelined with long-term injuries.
More recently, Noah Allen picked up a booking against NYCFC last weekend, meaning that he is unavailable for the Herons against Charlotte.
The decision for Miami head coach Martino relates to Leonardo Campana, the DP striker who has struggled to secure consistent minutes this year. With Luis Suárez monopolising the No. 9 position for much of the year Campana has had few opportunities.
However Campana has proved a worthy option when called upon. He has scored in both of Inter Miami’s last two games, matches in which both Suárez and Messi failed to score. The Ecuadorian is now the club’s all-time record goalscorer and would likely start for most other teams in the league. With the playoffs fast approaching, Martino may choose to give him more minutes to rest the veteran superstars’ legs.