MIAMI: Lionel Messi could make his return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday with the Argentine hoping to give a boost to Inter Miami’s flagging playoff hopes. Messi has played just 37 minutes for his club since September 3 having returned with an injury from international duty with Argentina last month.
His absence has been sorely felt, with Miami winless in its last three league games and losing the US Open Cup final to Houston. Miami crashed to a 4-1 defeat to Chicago on Wednesday without the seven-times Ballon d’Or winner but the following day he was named in Argentina’s squad for its upcoming South American World Cup qual-ifiers. That prompted speculation that he might be in contention to face Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati on Saturday and the optimism increased after he trained on Thursday and Friday.
But in keeping with the club’s approach throughout the injury saga, there was no clue from assistant coach Javier Morales about whether Messi would start.
“It’s more of the same. We have to evaluate him day by day. He trained yesterday, he will train today, and af-terwards we will surely make a decision. But every day he is doing better,” he told reporters.
If Miami is to achieve what is now an unlikely goal of extending its season into the playoffs, it will surely need Messi to be on the field. Agencies
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