Messi returns for Barca as Koeman warns towards dropping extra factors

Lionel Messi has recovered from an ankle harm and able to tackle Huesca on Sunday as Barcelona look to get their La Liga season again on monitor following final week’s shock 1-1 draw at house to Eibar, coach Ronald Koeman has mentioned.Barca’s all-time prime scorer watched on helplessly from the empty Camp Nou stands as his facet struggled towards the minnows however Koeman mentioned his captain had been working extra time to return to health.“Messi is in good shape, he trained on December 30 and 31, even when his team mates had days off, and he’s not feeling any discomfort anymore,” Koeman informed a information convention on Saturday. “He’s ready, he’s feeling happy and very determined and that’s very important for us.”Messi is now into the ultimate six months of his contract with Barca and has said he is not going to determine his future till the tip of the marketing campaign, however Koeman mentioned the uncertainty was no distraction for his facet.“Like any player who is finishing their contract, he is free to decide what he wants,” he mentioned. “He’s proved he wants the best for this team and I have no problem with him not making his decision now. We aren’t feeling nervous or worried about it.”Barca’s draw with Eibar left them sixth within the standings and 10 factors behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who even have a recreation in hand, and Koeman repeated his earlier perception that his facet had been slipping out of the title race.“I’m a realist when it comes to our chances of winning the league. We cannot afford to drop many more points, and as Atletico are so consistent, it’s very difficult for us. Each point lost is another chance gone,” he mentioned. While Messi returns towards Huesca, Barca shall be with out Philippe Coutinho, who underwent surgical procedure on a knee harm and shall be out for round three months.The Brazilian is the fourth participant the Catalans have misplaced to a long run harm this season after Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.“We will keep working with what we have but we have lost important players of real quality,” added the Dutch coach, who additionally despatched his greatest needs to former Barca workforce mate Eusebio Sacristan, who’s in an induced coma after struggling a fall. (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Christian Radnedge)