Thuram: We Need Messi Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram believes that his side need Lionel Messi back as soon as possible after it was confirmed that

Messi has been out of the side for five weeks since picking up a hamstring injury against Valencia in December and with his return to the side seemingly imminent, Thuram has expressed how vital he feels Messi is to their success.

"The team really needs Messi," he told Marca, going to on to describe Messi as being a player that is "hard to find in the world and the sort of player that every team needs".

With Messi back in the fold, Thuram believes that Barcelona can start to eat into the seven-point deficit to Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

"It is possible to reach Madrid. Truthfully, they do not always play well, but still win, although it will not always be like that; and the important thing is that we are able to win our games. There is still time and I believe that it is possible to win La Liga in spite of the seven points."

Thuram believes that Ronaldinho will also soon be back among the first-team squad, confirming that the Brazilian is "working hard be in top physical condition" and had words of praise for the current form of his compatriot Thierry Henry, saying: "he is better, and the team needed that."

Finally, attention turned to Barca's defence, which is currently the best in La Liga. Thuram believes that new signings "like Milito and Abidal are very important to the team".

"But to defend well you need for the whole team to work hard," he concluded.