Messi on track to make injury comeback vs. Real Madrid after coming off crutches

The Argentina star injured knee ligaments in a win over Las Palmas, but he's now ready to step up his recovery work — with a Clasico date the goal.

Lionel Messi has taken the first significant steps in his recovery from a serious knee injury, with Barcelona hopeful the Argentine will be fit and firing in time for the first Clasico of the season against Real Madrid on Nov. 22, Goal Spain understands.

The 28-year-old spent last week on crutches with his leg immobilized after suffering ligament damage in Barca’s win over Las Palmas at the end of September, but he abandoned them Monday and moved on to the second phase of his rehabilitation.

He will now work with club physiotherapist Roger Girones for two weeks, with the plan to have him running in another two weeks before slowly being integrated back into full training.

Barca’s initial diagnosis was that the club's all-time top scorer would be out for seven to eight weeks, which would see him return to action just in time for the trip to the Bernabeu to take on Rafa Benitez’s Madrid. Argentina manager Gerard Martino has even suggested he could be back for the November internationals.