Lionel Messi has started his recovery after suffering an injury in training that will keep him from participating in Barcelona’s U.S. Tour. His target? The first La Liga game this season, against Athletic Club Bilbao on August 17th to 18th.

The Argentine star has already began work with the physios, and this morning he was starting his recovery at the Ciutat Esportiva,

Messi injured himself in the first training session after arriving from Argentina’s podium finish at the Copa América.

If he recovers in time, he will still be without a proper pre-season. There’s a chance he could come off the bench. Still, the injury is understood to be relatively minor.

Several of the new signings have voiced enthusiasm for finally getting to make their play a match alongside Messi, but it seems they’ll have to wait just a little longer.