Inter Miami will look to bounce back following their bashing at the hands of the NY Red Bulls. The Herons were completely outclassed in the absence of Lionel Messi and their other key players. The team could not generate any attacking threat, suffering a 4-0 rout away from home. Tata Martino’s men will look to redeem themselves as they take on New York City in their seventh fixture this season.

The team will have somewhat of a home advantage playing in front of their home fans. However, there have been concerns over Lionel Messi’s availability for the game, considering his recent injury. Messi picked up a knock against Nashville this month and has been absent from all fixtures since the game. The Argentine was also rested from his national team, helping him recover faster. With his team in dire need of his services, fans hope to see La Pulga take to the field this Saturday.

However, Inter Miami has poured cold water on their fans’ wishes. The club issued an official confirmation earlier tonight surrounding Messi’s availability. Miami, in their message, has made it clear that Lionel Messi is still recovering and will not be a part of the team facing New York City. The club’s medical staff believes Messi will be back soon but needs ample rest to avoid aggravating his injury.

With the Argentine ruled out of the home game, it will be interesting to see when the team management brings their captain back into the fold. Inter Miami has played 8 games so far this season and has suffered defeat in 2 of the 3 games Lionel Messi did not feature for the team. With the player’s crucial role in the team’s success, fans will expect La Pulga to return in the coming weeks.

When will Lionel Messi return to action for Inter Miami?

With Lionel Messi out of action for a while now, fans have been curious about his potential return. However, they won’t have to wait too long, as the Argentine could be in action in a matter of days. According to reports, Inter Miami plans to bring the player back into the fold as early as the first week of May. The Herons are up against Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and would love to have their skipper back for the big game.

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However, the team needs to carefully manage his workload, with the Argentine picking up injuries frequently. Inter Miami will be in action five times in the next two weeks, and playing Messi in all five games would be a massive mistake. The team could opt to use the player for just the cup fixtures this month, considering his importance to the team.

What do you think of Inter Miami’s performance without Lionel Messi? Let us know in the comments below.

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