Lionel Messi: Inter Miami superstar RETURNS for MLS match against FC Cincinnati as he is named on the bench after recovering from injury

Lionel Messi has been named on the bench for Inter Miami’s crucial MLS showdown with FC Cincinnati after finally recovering from a muscle injury.

Messi, who has scored 11 goals in 12 appearances since arriving at Miami this summer, has missed the club’s last four matches in all competitions, including their loss to Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final.

The Argentine has not played since September 20, when he left his team’s 4-0 win over Toronto due to muscle discomfort.

Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets has been included in the starting lineup, although there is no place for Jordi Alba in the 18-man roster as he continues to recover from injury. his own injury.

Josef Martinez leads the line with Facundo Farias in a match in which Miami cannot afford to lose points, with coach Tata Martino also opting for extra protection with five defenders.

Lionel Messi has been named on the Inter Miami bench for the match against Cincinnati.

Messi is fit enough to be involved in some capacity on Saturday after recovering from injury.

Captain DeAndre Yedlin starts at right back and Noah Allen is deployed on the opposite side between a center back trio of Tomás Avilés, Serhiy Kryvtsov and Kamal Miller.

Miami’s faint hopes of clinching a playoff spot could end if they suffer a loss to Cincinnati, allowing Chicago and Montreal to mathematically knock them out of contention with wins of their own.

However, the hosts will be buoyed by the presence of Messi back on their bench, providing Martino with a legendary asset should they need some inspiration later in the game.

The 36-year-old was healthy enough to be called up to Argentina’s latest squad, with the Albiceleste naming him in their roster for this month’s World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.

Busquets said of his long-time teammate ahead of Saturday’s game: “He’s pretty much ready to come back, which is great because he’s a very important player and we need him; but he can’t do it. force, because then we could lose it again.

Martino also admitted: “I think he is close to playing again. We will evaluate him on Friday to see if he is fit to play on Saturday. The most important thing is that he puts his injury aside and slowly return to his best form.

The Inter Miami star had missed the club’s last four matches in all competitions due to injury.

Miami is still alive for a playoff spot, but the club’s chances of making the playoffs are slim.

The Herons are five points out of the playoffs with just three games remaining, as Miami has 33 points and ninth-place Montreal has 38.

Due to injury and a previous international commitment with Argentina, Messi only played four MLS matches for Inter Miami.