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Lionel Messi back to 'perfect' fitness for Barcelona, says Neymar

Neymar says Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is in perfect condition and could make his return from injury against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga this weekend.

The Argentine international has been missing since being taken off with a groin problem in September's draw with Atletico Madrid, but he returned to training earlier this week after three weeks on the sidelines.

Barca host Depor at Camp Nou on Saturday, although with Manchester City to come four days later in the Champions League, coach Luis Enrique may prefer to ease Messi back into action.

"Leo is OK, he's perfect [in terms of fitness]," Neymar said at an event for Panasonic on Thursday. "Whether all three of us play [Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez] against Deportivo depends on the manager.

"We know we are making history and together we're stronger. The magic of the trident is the friendship. We are friends on and off the pitch. We help each other."

Of the three South American forwards, Neymar is the least likely to be rested this weekend.

The Brazilian missed his country's win over Venezuela in midweek through suspension and was able to make an early return to Barcelona.

Messi, however, is only just recovering from his second groin injury of the season, while Suarez was back in training on Thursday after playing for Uruguay on Tuesday night.

However, Neymar says he understands that there will be times when each member of the Barca frontline has to take a break throughout the campaign.

"You have to accept rotations," he said. "The manager always speaks with us and we know there are a lot of games until the end of the season and everyone wants to be at their best at the end of the campaign.

"We're all aware of the matter, it's for our own good, so we have to accept it."

Neymar's been training this week with stitching above his eye as a result of the elbow he took to the face from Bolivia's Yasmani Duk in last week's World Cup qualifier.

Duk has since accused Neymar of being "too cocky" and it comes after Atletico Madrid's Juanfran had suggested the 24-year-old can sometimes be provocative with his manner of playing.

Despite, the criticism, though, Neymar insists he won't alter his game: "I am not going to change, of course I won't change.

"People have to know that when I go on the pitch I have my way of playing and my way of playing is this: to dribble, to score goals, to help my teammates and I'm happy playing this way.

"If people aren't [happy], there's nothing I can do. In football you can give elbows and kicks, but not everyone can dribble. I won't change my way of playing."