Messi returns to training as broken arm heals

Messi broke his arm earlier in the month during the Barcelona - Sevilla La Liga clash but he is back in training and will soon be able to resume games with his Catalan club. The Argentina international's injury ruled him out of El Clasico but the Blaugrana triumphed in a 5-1 victory at Camp Nou. Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde however insisted Messi's presence was still missed. In a news conference, Valverde said, "For us, since last week when he got injured, we were probably thinking how we would respond on the pitch."

"There's only one answer, you have to respond as a team and that's what we've done. The result could've been different but that's the only answer we can give you.

"We're delighted for the team but obviously the sooner he's back the better for us because we miss him. We want him back tomorrow."

Despite Messi's return to training, he still has some mobility issues and is thus unlikely to feature in the La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano this weekend. There's however a chance of Messi playing the return game against Inter (November 6, 2018) in a Champions League tie that would determine Group B's winner.

Messi has been in top form so far this season, scoring 12 goals in 12 games, and providing six assists. Sadly, he has missed Barcelona's 2-0 Champions League win over Inter, the 5-1 Clasico humiliation of Madrid at Camp Nou and Barcelona's 0-1 Copa del Rey win over Cultural Leonesa. 

However, a mainly inexperienced squad was selected by Valverde for the Copa del Rey game at Leon, as he chose to rest seven of his senior players with the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.