Barca Handed Boost As Messi Returns Lionel Messi is part of Frank Rijkaard's eighteen man squad to face Racing Santander on Sunday after five weeks o

The Argentine forward has recovered from the muscular breakdown in the left leg that he suffered during Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Valencia on the 15th December and will be among the substitutes against Racing.

He is expected to be brought on in the second half in an aim to get some minutes under his belt to aid his return to full fitness.

Oleguer joins Messi in the squad after recovering from injury and new signing José Manuel Pinto will replace youngster Oier Olazabel as the substitute goalkeeper.

Deco returned to action with a twenty minute cameo as a substitute against Sevilla in mid-week and is once again in the squad, although he is not expected to be in the starting eleven.

Ronaldinho is still missing from the squad and despite remarks from Joan Laporta and Frank Rijkaard in support of the Brazilian yesterday, the Spanish media still believes that there is more behind his continued absence than meets the eye.

Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure are away on African Cup of Nations duty and Albert Jorquera, Edmilson and Santiago Ezquerro are all ruled out through injury.

Squad: Valdés, Pinto, Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Abidal, Milito, Márquez, Iniesta, Xavi, Deco, Gudjohnsen, Giovani, Messi, Henry and Bojan.