Messi magic needed for Miami as injuries pile up ahead of opener

Inter Miami will have to rely heavily on Lionel Messi's firepower as injuries pile up

- 

Inter Miami will have to rely heavily on Lionel Messi’s firepower as they prepare for Saturday's Club World Cup opener against Al-Ahly, with coach Javier Mascherano forced to re-shuffle his backline due to a string of injuries.

Fullback Jordi Alba, fellow defender Gonzalo Lujan and defensive midfielder Yannick Bright have all been ruled out of the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium.

"They are not available for this game, hopefully they will be for the second game,” Mascherano told a press conference on Friday.

Alba, one of Messi’s former Barcelona team-mates, is sidelined with a hamstring issue.

There were also concerns regarding the fitness of centre back David Martinez.

Alba, who has a leg muscle injury, will be a major absence for Mascherano not only for his defensive abilities but for his role as one of the main providers of quality service to Messi.

"David had some kind of pain yesterday and we did not want to take any risks,” said Mascherano.