Messi's potential return date

Once the injury was diagnosed and Messi was definitevely facing a spell on the sidelines, the Argentine set to work straight away in a bid to ensure he was out of action for as short a time as possible and setting his sights on his return.

Whilst the fact that he will have to miss next week's 'El Clásico' clash with Real Madrid will no doubt hurt, the fact that the fracture was only partial and not total is excellent news for both player and club, as it means he will miss just two weeks or so of action, rather than two months.

The star was put in plaster on Sunday morning as he starts his two weeks of immobilising the arm in question. 

Spanish publication 'AS' states that it will be anything but two weeks of relaxation for the number 10, with his club having prepared him an intense fitness plan to ensure he doesn't lose any sharpness during his time out.

The same source claims that Messi will undergo cold therapy in an attempt to reduce the swelling and inflammation around the fracture in the coming days.

Should his recovery go perfectly, Messi could possibly feature against Inter at San Siro on November 6, but it is likely that his comeback will come in LaLiga five days later when Barca welcome Real Betis to the Camp Nou.