The skipper of the Catalan club has made significant progress in his injury recovery.

Barcelona's injury crisis has been eased with skipper Lionel Messi set to return to the fold. The 32-year-old striker has began personal training and could be given medical clearance to feature in Los Blaugrana's weekend clash with Real Betis. 

Messi picked up a knock in his first preseason training for Barca having returned from an extended vacation after this summer's Copa America campaign with Argentina. As a result, the forward was ruled out of the team's US tour in a bid to recover in time for the new season.

Nevertheless, attempts to get the five-time Ballon d'Or winner ready for La Liga opener against Athletic Club proved futile with his side subsequently falling to a 1-0 defeat at San Mames. Prior to the encounter, the Barca No. 10 issued a statement expressing his frustration for not being able to help the team in its season curtain-raiser and vowed to work towards a quick recovery.

On Monday, Messi gave fans enough reason to smile by publishing images of him training alone on his Instagram account. The timing of the Argentine striker's post is near perfect considering the fact that his side is short-handed when it comes to personnel available to lead the attack in the weekend's clash with Real Betis.

 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) on

Barcelona is currently without lead attacker Luis Suarez as he picked up an ankle injury in Friday's defeat to Athletic Bilbao. The Uruguayan forward had to be taken off in the first half during the clash and is expected to return in September.

Also, French winger Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out of action for five weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in the same outing.