Lionel Messi targets comeback from thigh injury against Inter this week
Optimism is growing at Barcelona about the Argentine's return date
Lionel Messi could finally be fit to face Inter Milan in Wednesday's Champions League group stage game at Camp Nou.
According to sources close to Barca's medical team, the Argentine's thigh injury has evolved well -- much better than initially expected.
Proof of that is the fact he could now be included in the squad against the Italians -- either to play from the start or to be on the bench.
Tests on a thigh injury picked up against Villarreal last Tuesday ruled Messi out of the weekend's win over Getafe and placed his participation against Inter and Sevilla this weekend in major doubt.
However, the same sources have also told SPORT that there will be no risks taken with Messi's fitness.
Messi, 32, missed the first four games of the season with a calf injury picked up in preseason. He returned as a substitute against Borussia Dortmund and also came on against Granada.
He made his first start of the campaign against Villarreal but then hurt his thigh and was removed at halftime.
It's hard to remember a worse start to a season for The Best. So far he has played 120 minutes and hasn't even appeared in 20 percent of Barça's games.
Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are also currently fighting small injuries. Therefore, against Getafe, Valverde's front three was Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Carles Perez.
