Argentina's interim manager Sergio Batista is hopeful that his star man Lionel Messi will be right for next month's friendly with Japan. The Albiceleste take on the Blue Samurai on October 8 but are in danger of going into the match without Messi who was injured in Barcelona's 2-1 Spanish La Liga win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Batista, who took over the Argentina post from former Barcelona star Diego Maradona after the World Cup, said he will wait on the decision to name his squad so he can give the 23-year old every chance to recover from the ankle problem.

"I talked to Lionel and he wants to play, but we will wait to speak with the doctors, because we will not harm him in any way," Batista told Marca.

"We will wait as long as necessary so as not to strain the relationship with Barcelona, a club which has always behaved very well with Argentina."