Mauricio Pochettino confirms Lionel Messi will return to Paris Saint-Germain starting line-up for Nice clash on Monday… but Sergio Ramos hits ANOTHER setback with training injury
- Lionel Messi was absent from the PSG line-up for three matches this month
- The Argentine contracted a strong variant of coronavirus and was in isolation
- Messi returned against Stade Reims as a substitute, playing 30 minutes
- Mauricio Pochettino believes he’s ready to start again, but Sergio Ramos is out
Lionel Messi is set to be brought back into the PSG line-up by Mauricio Pochettino on Monday, with the Argentine boss satisfied his compatriot has recovered from Covid.
The 34-year-old was hit by ‘the roughest variant’ of coronavirus during the winter break and has missed three matches since 2022 got underway in France.
Messi was back in action last weekend, coming on after 63 minutes in the Parisians’ 4-0 thumping of Stade Reims – setting up Marco Verratti for the third just four minutes after his introduction.
Lionel Messi is set to start the Ligue 1 clash with Nice for Paris Saint-Germain on Monday
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed the superstar is ready to be named in his starting XI again
Messi also missed Argentina’s World Cup Qualifying clash against Chile through the virus, but Pochettino is ready to deploy him in Ligue 1 at home to Nice.
‘He trained well this week after having been absent due to COVID,’ the former Southampton boss said.
‘He played 30 minutes last week and I think he’s fit to start the match against Nice on Monday.’
It’s not all good news for PSG though, with the club releasing an update on their stricken stars ahead of the Nice clash.
Sergio Ramos is at risk of missing the Champions League clashes with Real Madrid with injury
The defender scored his first PSG goal last time out but a calf injury provides another setback
Sergio Ramos, who has only made five appearances since joining from Real Madrid this the summer, is set for another spell on the sidelines.
The veteran centre-back suffered a ‘low-grade’ injury to his right calf in Thursday’s training and will undergo tests next week.
Ramos scored his first PSG goal in only his second start in the Stade Reims walkover after earlier calf trouble delayed his debut until November. With the first leg of a Champions League last-16 showdown with his former employers in just over two week’s time, Ramos will be praying for a swift recovery.
Meanwhile, Neymar and Gini Wijnaldum are on the mend following ankle trouble, with the Brazilian back running and due for more tests – while his Dutch team-mate is due to rejoin his team-mates for regular training imminently.
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