Inter Miamis secured arguably their most impressive win of the MLS season last night against FC Cincinnati, with Lionel Messi again missing the game through injury.
The Argentine international has not kicked a ball for the Herons since the start of June, with the Copa America and an injury in the final keeping Messi out of action, with the forward missing the last 12 Inter Miami games.
With Messi set to miss Argentina’s September fixtures, the attacker is being given every possible outlet to recover from his ankle injury, with the 37-year-old closing in on a return to full Inter Miami training.
And manager Tata Martino has now shared an exciting injury update on Messi’s fitness.
Messi now back training with the ball after injury
Speaking to the press after last night’s win against Cincinnati, Martino revealed that Messi is training with the ball having spent the last few weeks solely working out in the gym on recovering from his injury.
With Inter Miami now in the play-offs and the Supporters’ Shield firmly in their sights, there is little reason to rush Messi back to full fitness with MLS Cup the main goal for the Herons, yet this update is still more than exciting.
Martino said on Messi’s recovery: “He is coming along very well, but as I said the other day, I can’t specify a time. He’s now on the field, he’s working with the physical trainers and he’s no longer in the medical area, he’s also training with the ball.
“It’ll be a matter of time before he starts to get into shape physically and recovering a bit of that physical form that any player would lose when he’s out for five or six weeks. He feels confident that this injury is leaving him, and it’s something that I think is not far from happening.”
Inter Miami need Messi back to full fitness as soon as possible
MLS Cup will now be the only thing the Inter Miami squad are talking about having booked their ticket into the play-offs for later this year, and the Herons will want Messi back to full fitness as soon as possible.
The Argentine international will be the key for Inter Miami in winning MLS Cup, with the pressure now on for the Florida franchise to win the title having missed out on the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup already this year.
Yet with Inter Miami into the play-offs, there is little pressure to rush Messi back to full fitness, with the Argentine’s fitness a priority for Martino and his team as we head towards the post-season.