Alejandro Sabella urges Lionel Messi patience

Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella has revealed that Lionel Messi is "in good spirits" as he recovers from a hamstring tear.

The 59-year-old recently met with the Barcelona forward as he stepped up training at the Argentine Football Association's training complex in Buenos Aires.

Sabella said that Messi's recovery is going as planned, although he warned against rushing the 26-year-old back into action too soon.

"Both times I saw Lionel, he was on the [treatment] table we chatted a bit," Reuters quotes him as saying. "On Monday he did some light movements on the field, he's well, I saw him in good spirits.

"We must be patient because it's an injury that takes time (to recover from), but he'll recover and be good."

Messi is expected to return to action next month.