Argentina prodigy Lionel Messi will start on the bench in his side's clash against Serbia and Montenegro in the World Cup on Friday. The 18-year-old has recently recovered from a thigh injury but sustained a minor knock on his left foot that kept him out of training on Wednesday. "He suffered a very small problem that has nothing to do with the prior injury," Argentina coach Jose Pekerman was quoted as saying by BBC Sport on Thursday. "It was a knock and we decided he should not train on Wednesday. "On Thursday, he got up without feeling any pain. If all goes well he will be on the bench on Friday," he added. The Barcelona forward did not take part in Argentina's 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. Argentina are on top of Group C with three points, ahead of second-placed Holland on goal difference, while Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro lie third and fourth respectively with no points.