How Paris Saint-Germain could line up against AC Ajaccio

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi will be back in the starting lineup for Saturday's Ligue 1 clash with AC Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes.

The 35-year-old was handed an initial two-week suspension for taking an unauthorised commercial trip to Saudi Arabia and subsequently missed last weekend's 3-1 win at Troyes.

However, while the rest of Christophe Galtier's squad enjoyed a day off on Monday, Messi made a surprise return to individual training, and he has been given the green light to make a quicker-than-expected comeback.

Achraf Hakimi will also return from a domestic ban after his red card at Lorient, but all of Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Neymar (ankle) and Nordi Mukiele (hamstring) are on the season-ending injury list, while Timothee Pembele's knee issue has rendered him unavailable too.

Gianluigi Donnarumma did not cover himself in glory for Troyes' consolation effort last time out, but the Italian will continue in goal as ever, as Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos form the three-man barrier ahead of him.

Warren Zaire-Emery was deployed as a makeshift wing-back at the Stade de l'Aube, but the 16-year-old will drop out upon Hakimi's return, while Juan Bernat continues on the opposite flank.

Renato Sanches was back from a groin issue last time out, but Galtier has hinted that he could deploy a front three on Saturday, potentially leading to a midfielder being sacrificed in a 3-4-3 system.

Fabian Ruiz may be the unlucky one to drop out of the engine room as Vitinha and Marco Verratti hold the fort, while Messi may come back into a front three with Hugo Ekitike and Kylian Mbappe.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos; Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat; Messi, Ekitike, Mbappe