Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has spoken of his readiness to step up and help his country overcome the absence of Lionel Messi.

Messi suffered an injury two weeks ago and looks set to be ruled out for the next nine weeks, which will include four 2018 World Cup qualifiers for La Albiceleste.

Aguero is also ready to wear the iconic number 10 shirt worn by Messi and the legendary Diego Maradona, which the Barcelona star has been making a point of recently.

Aguero told La Nacion: "I spoke to the kit man and he told me it's obligatory, someone has to use it (the No 10 shirt) because the numbers go from 1 to 23.

"I wore it for the first time against Bosnia, in a friendly in the United States, and Leo (Messi) said: 'When I am not around Kun (Aguero) has to use it.'

"Then he started to send me messages like: 'Are you going to wear it? You're not going to chicken out?'

"Now every time he is absent it is up to me to wear it. I am happy to pull on the shirt, but it obviously belongs to him."