Explained: Why Inter Miami star Jordi Alba missed training ahead of Lionel Messi and Co's CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Nashville

According to the Miami Herald, the defender is sick and hence refrained from participating in the team's training session on Tuesday. The Inter Miami squad will leave for Nashville on Wednesday morning and it remains to be seen if Alba will be well enough to fly with his team-mates.

Alba has played every minute in the MLS so far and has been a crucial figure for Tata Martino. He set up Messi for a 92nd-minute equaliser against LA Galaxy which was incidentally the Argentine's first strike of the season.

Alba was signed from Barcelona last summer as a free agent by Inter Miami. He took little time to taste success as the Spaniard went on to lift the Leagues Cup along with Messi & Sergio Busquets.

Martino will be looking to manage the minutes of his veteran superstars to keep injury at bay. However, if Alba does feel better on Wednesday he should be on the flight to Nashville as the Herons would like to field their strongest XI in the first leg of the Champions Cup last-16.