Messi return boosts hopes for Inter Miami against Galaxy

MIAMI: Inter Miami supporters are feeling hopeful as Lionel Messi looks set to return against Los Angeles Galaxy in a Major League Soccer clash, coach Javier Mascherano said on Friday. 

The star forward has been back in training after recovering from a minor muscle problem. His presence is expected to lift the team as they prepare for a key MLS clash.

Following Saturday’s Galaxy match, Miami plays Mexican club Tigres UANL on Wednesday in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals.

“Leo is doing well,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday before training. “He has been training with the team since Wednesday. Unless something strange happens during today’s training session, we think he’ll be available for tomorrow’s game.”

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi suffered a “minor muscle injury,” apparently a hamstring strain, in the 11th minute of Inter’s August 2 Leagues Cup match against Necaxa.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar returns as the Herons vie to bounce back from a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City last weekend.

Inter have slipped to sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points – nine behind leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.

Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, leads the Golden Boot race with 18 goals and nine assists in 18 games.

Miami will be favoured at home against the Galaxy, who are the defending MLS Cup champions but have sunk to last place with the league’s worst record.

The Galaxy, however, did qualify for the Leagues Cup quarter-finals, and Mascherano cautioned that Miami can’t afford to take them lightly.

“For me, they’re a team in which the MLS standings don’t reflect their quality, especially the quality of their players,” Mascherano said.

“The reality is that maybe they didn’t start the season well because of injuries and different situations. But they’ve improved a lot over the last few months.”