Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza has admitted missing Lionel Messi in his Argentina squad, but also insisted that he had given no thought to calling the player up for international duty as he recovers from injury.
Messi hasn't played since suffering a groin strain in a match against Atletico Madrid on September 21, and is said to be very concerned with the problem.
Since announcing his retirement from international football, the 29-year-old has gone back on his decision. However, he has been left out of the squad to face Peru andParaguay for this month's World Cup qualifiers.
Bauza has said that while the player is itching to get over his injury and return to action, Barcelona, as well as Argentina, must try to keep him as fit as possible in the coming months.
"Messi is worried about his injury. He wants to play the games and it's difficult to have him sidelined," he said toTyC Sports.
"We never toyed with the option of having him in this squad. We have to be careful together.
"Barcelona's medical staff know perfectly what he has to do, I simply say that he has to look after himself.
"He's now in the recovery process, which is good news. I think he'll be at a good level when he returns."
Argentina have won four out of their last five qualifying matches after losing their first three, and are now third in their group. Bauza knows that his squad will have a huge void playing without Messi, but warns that there are good enough to make up for the attacker's absence.
"We don't have the best attacking player there is, so you have to put other options in to find that cutting edge.But Argentina can find it, because we have very good players."
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