Lionel Messi Back In Training.

. Lionel Messi back in training with Barcelona after injury

• Argentinian continues recovery from thigh strain
• Messi may not be risked against Osasuna on Saturday.

Lionel Messi, left, did not join up with Argentina's World Cup qualifying squad, staying at Barcelona for treatment. Photograph: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images
Reuters

Lionel Messi returned to training with Barcelona on Monday as he continued his recovery from a thigh strain sustained at Almeria at the end of last month.

The striker did not join up with Argentina, who had already secured their place at next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, for their last qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay, remaining in Spain for treatment.

Barça's next match is away to Osasuna on Saturday, though with a Champions League game at Milan the following Tuesday it remains to be seen whether coach, Gerardo Martino, will risk him in domestic competition this weekend.

Messi "has taken another step forward in his recovery," the Spanish champions said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es).

Messi has scored eight goals in six La Liga appearances and scored a hat-trick against Ajax in his sole Champions League outing this season.