MLS
Lionel Messi returns to training: when will he play next for Inter Miami? Will he face New York Red Bulls?
The former Barcelona star pulled out of the Argentina squad because of a hamstring injury but has started working again.
After pulling out of the Argentina squad for the upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi trained alone on Wednesday as The Herons step up preparations for Saturday’s MLS game against New York Red Bulls.
Concachampions tie against Monterrey the main target for Messi return
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who suffered a hamstring injury during the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 tie against Nashville, is not expected to play at Red Bull Arena at the weekend, and will miss his third match of the season.
Messi did some gym work on his return to training, with being ready for the first leg of Concachampions quarter-final match-up against Monterrey (3 April) the main target. Before that, Inter Miami will also face New York City FC at Chase Park on 30 March, with the 36-year-old’s participation in that fixture very much up in the air.
Inter Miami availability update before NYRB game
In addition to Messi, other members of the roster who trained separately due to muscle discomfort include striker Leonardo Campana and defender Nicolás Freire. Both are doubts for this Saturday’s game.
Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino doesn’t have selection problems to seek ahead of the game in New York. In addition to the injured players, the former Barcelona and Mexico manager will also be without several men who have been called up for international duty.
Among the players who will not be involved against NYRB are first-choice goalkeeper Drake Callender (USMNT), Diego Gómez (Paraguay), Shane Boreglin (Haiti), David Rúiz (Honduras) and Federico Redondo, who will feature for the Argentina Under-23 team against Mexico.
On the flip side, Martino will be able to call upon the services of ex-Barça trio Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, who will be the leaders of a team that will be hoping to keep its positive start to the new season going.
Las Garzas are currently top of both the Eastern Conference and the overall MLS standings on total goal differential, although they have played a game more than every other team in the league.