Lionel Messi posts positive injury update ahead of Real Betis clash

Lionel Messi has offered a positive injury update as he bids to return to action in time to face Real Betis on Sunday.

The Barcelona captain was forced out of Friday’s La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao with injury and has been training alone this week.

However, Messi has posted a series of images on Instagram of him working with the ball which suggests he is not too far away from returning to full training.

Barcelona have a double training session on Wednesday and then the day off on Thursday.

They will train again on Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday’s match at the Camp Nou, and hopefully Messi will be fit enough to make Ernesto Valverde’s match-day squad.