Lionel Messi is back in training for Barcelona after missing the last two games because of a broken bone in his arm. Messi suffered the injury on October 20 in their 4-2 win against Sevilla which was expected to sideline the Argentina forward for several weeks. But the 31-year-old, who missed the Champions League win over Inter and Sunday's 5-1 El Clasico triumph against Real Madrid, joined his team-mates in a photo tweeted by the club with the words 'Leo Messi returns to training'. Lionel Messi is back in training with Barcelona having made a quicker return than expected Coach Ernesto Valverde will check Messi's fitness before deciding whether to bring him back for Saturday's league game at Rayo Vallecano or delay his return until next Tuesday, when Barcelona travel to the San Siro to face Inter in the Champions League. Messi had been in stunning form before his injury, netting 12 goals in as many games. This included four in his last three against Sevilla, where he suffered his injury, Valencia and Tottenham Hotspur. Messi was forced off against Sevilla earlier in the month with a broken arm The Argentine forward was wearing a sling at the Nou Camp during his side's Champions League victory over Barcelona just days later Barcelona are currently progressing well domestically and in Europe as they sit top of La Liga by a point from surprise outfit Deportivo Alaves, while they look all but certain to reach the Champions League last 16 as group winners. Barca are back in action on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey when they travel to Cultural Leonesa, with Messi's stand-in Ousmane Dembele is expected to start. Dembele has struggled to settle at the Nou Camp following his £96million arrival from Borussia Dortmund last term, with the Spanish side considering cashing in on the forward who is being tracked by Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Gunners are also weighing up a swoop for another Barca outcast in Malcolm, but are expected to face a fight with Tottenham Hotspur to secure his signature.<doc-sep>Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Lionel Messi was originally expected to miss nearly a month after breaking his right arm on Oct. 20, but now appears intent on returning in nearly half the time. [ MORE: Roberto Martinez the new front runner for Real Madrid job ] The Barcelona superstar missed a Champions League victory over Inter Milan last week followed by Sunday’s El Clasico destruction of Real Madrid, but returned to light training on Wednesday, 11 days after suffering the injury. Messi isn’t in the squad to face Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey round of 32 on Wednesday, but his return to training signals the possibility he could be available to face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga action on Sunday. Follow @AndyEdMLS<doc-sep>Lionel Messi has returned to training with Barcelona only 11 days after fracturing his arm against Sevilla. The Argentine star was forced off the La Liga game after 15 minutes following a nasty fall which saw him awkwardly bend his arm. Reports after the game suggested he would be sidelined for about three weeks, and he missed El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday night, a 5-1 thrashing which saw the end of Julen Lopetegui's reign as Madrid coach. However, pictures on Barcelona's official Twitter account on Wednesday morning certified Messi was back at the Joan Gamper training complex for a training session with the rest of the squad. Although he will not take part in the team's Copa del Rey fixture against Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday, he could make a return on the bench for their league clash against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Barcelona will resume their Champions League campaign when they travel to face Inter Milan at San Siro next Wednesday.<doc-sep>
Lionel Messi returned to training on Wednesday after missing Barcelona's wins over Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the last week. Messi, 31, did some fitness training at the club's training ground and was able to do some ball work for the first time since breaking a bone in his arm on Oct. 20. The forward is on track to return within the three weeks he was initially ruled out for but sources have told ESPN FC that Barca won't take any risks with his recovery. Barcelona face Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday before travelling to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday. Messi will not be available for either game but his return to training led to hopes he could return for next Tuesday's game at Inter. Failing that, he will almost certainly be back to face Real Betis on Nov. 11, which is Barca's final game before the international break. Lionel Messi during Barcelona's Clasico win against Real Madrid. Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images He injured his arm in the win over Sevilla earlier this month but his absence has not hampered Barca on the pitch. So far he has missed the 2-0 Champions League win over Inter and the 5-1 Clasico humiliation of Madrid at Camp Nou. Messi trained with Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique on Wednesday as the first team travelled to Leon for their cup game. Ernesto Valverde has named an inexperienced squad for the match, resting seven of his more senior players, including Ivan Rakitic, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez.