MIAMI — Lionel Messi’s status for the Inter Miami home game Saturday against the Philadelphia Union remains up in the air.

The Argentine star returned to training a few weeks ago and was expected to make his return this weekend after a two-month injury layoff; but he was not on the field for the 15-minute media viewing window at training Wednesday morning.

According to a source with knowledge of Messi’s absence, he had a sore throat, was not feeling well and did not train with the team. He is expected to return to practice in the coming days.

Messi has missed 20-of-35 games this year due to injury and national team duty. He has missed the past eight games since injuring his right ankle during the Copa America final July 14. The source confirmed that Messi’s absence from training Wednesday was not related to the injury.

Inter Miami, which has clinched a playoff spot, returns to action on Saturday after the two-week FIFA international break and leads the Supporters Shield race with seven games to go in the regular season. Miami has 59 points, seven points ahead of second-place Los Angeles Galaxy (52). Cincinnati is in third place with 51 points, the Columbus Crew is fourth with 49 and Los Angeles FC is fifth with 48.

Oscar Ustari on his role

The team will have a new player on the roster this weekend after the signing of backup goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, a 38-year-old from Argentina who is a friend and former teammate of Messi’s. Ustari signed a short-term contract until the end of this season and replaces reserve keeper C.J. Dos Santos, who is out after hand surgery.

Ustari said he has the upmost respect for starter Drake Callender as a player and person and hopes he can help the team with his experience heading into the final stretch of the season.

“I think I can help in many ways, whether I am playing or not,” he said Wednesday morning before training. “I like to talk to the other players, the young players, share what I have experienced on and off the field. I have been following Drake as I watched the team play many times, and he is a great keeper. I was surprised with the welcome I got from him, which shows the character that he has as a person.”

Tomas “Toto” Aviles on yellow cards

Defender Tomas “Toto” Aviles leads MLS with 10 yellow cards in 22 games and got two red cards. He was suspended for the most recent game, a 4-1 win over Chicago. As a team, Inter Miami ranks third in yellow cards with 70 behind D.C. United (79) and Toronto (77).

Aviles said it is something the team is addressing.

“It’s something each player has to address individually, our level of aggressiveness,” Aviles said. “I think us Latin American players are a little more intense and aggressive and I don’t think people are used to that and we don’t get any favors.”

Asked recently if he is concerned about Aviles’ propensity for committing ill-advised fouls and how to correct that in a young player, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said:

“I keep insisting that with young players in particular who have so much quality, the best thing is to talk to them and let him know it’s ok for him to have the temperament, that aggressiveness, because that speaks well of him and what he offers the team; but there is a point at which he has to discern when and where he would commit an error. But I am not here to punish him. On the contrary. I am here to help him grow in the best way possible so he can transform into the player he surely will be if he corrects this because he has huge qualities.”

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