Michael O'Neill, the Northern Ireland manager, has once again been frustrated in his attempts to assemble a full-strength squad.

The coach sent a side out in a friendly against Uruguay earlier this morning, but it was missing a number of key names.

Jonny Evans is injured, while others such as Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt, Craig Cathcart, Martin Paterson and Jamie Ward were all missing from the squad. "I'd like to have more experience than I do," said O'Neill. "It's about getting the balance right. The younger ones might come in without too much fear but you have to be fair to them."