The Argentinian has been missing with a thigh injury since November but is now back in training and took part in a full session alongside his team-mates yesterday morning.
Gerardo Martino may well choose to save the 26-year-old for Saturday&rsquo;s top-of-the-table clash with Atletico Madrid but, regardless of his exact return, the coach is excited to the have him available.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/2014/jan/Lionel-Messi_1.jpg" alt="Lionel Messi" width="500" height="635" />
&ldquo;The best player in the world will have an impact on the team. We&rsquo;ll be even better,&rdquo; he told www.barcelona. com.
If Martino decides that tomorrow is too early for Messi, then he still has a host of attacking options to choose from like Alexis Sanchez, who scored a hat-trick against Elche, or Pedro, who netted his fifth goal in three matches, or Neymar, who started on the bench.
Atletico in action The Last-16 action starts today with defending champions Atletico taking on Valencia before the crucial league visit of Barca. Diego Simeone&rsquo;s men are level with the Catalans at the top of the division.
But Simeone is refusing to get carried away and still believes that ending the dominance of city-rivals Real and Barca will be a huge ask for his team.
&ldquo;It would be so much nicer to be in this position at the end of the season but there&rsquo;s a long journey ahead,&rdquo; he told his club&rsquo;s website.
&ldquo;We must begin to look at Valencia with a new manager, it will be complicated. And then there&rsquo;s another big game at the Calderon next week. I am consistent with what I said. Look what it costs us to win a game.
There is a huge difference between Real and Barcelona and for us it is the effort that we are trying to fight. But we cannot go further because they have more possibilities (squad-wise).&rdquo;

Striker in line to make his long-awaited return for Barcelona this week and could feature in tomorrow's Copa del Rey tie

Lionel Messi could make Getafe return

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Lionel Messi could make Getafe return

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