Stuani and Hernandez join Uruguay team

MONTEVIDEO - Uruguayan forwards Christian Stuani and Abel Hernandez arrived in Montevideo on Tuesday to join in with national football team's training sessions for upcoming Copa America tournament in Chile.

Stuani and Hernandez may prove important players for Uruguay in the defence of their 2011 title, especially with the absence of striker Luis Suarez.

Suarez has been suspended from the whole tournament after receiving a nine-match ban for biting at Brazilian 2014 World Cup.

"We aren't going (to the tournament) as the favourites but we like that. Through humbleness and working hard, we could be strong in the cup," said Stuani, 28, who currently plays for RCD Espanyol in Spain.

Hernandez, who plays for the English team Hull City, said that Suarez' absence could give him more prominence in the team.

"I came here hoping to be on the pitch for longer. I will try to have a more important role," said the 24-year-old forward.

The team began training on Monday in Uruguay Celeste complex on the outskirts of the country's capital with only eight players but the rest of the squad are slated to join the sessions by the end of the week according to local daily El Pais.

Uruguay's aim is to be "a difficult team to face," said trainer Tabarez yesterday in a news conference.

The trainer announced on Saturday the 23 players that would be joining him in Chile which included striker Edinson Cavani who currently plays for France's Paris Saint-Germain.

The teams will play a home friendly against Guatemala on June 6 and then will travel to Antofagasta in Chile on June 9. Their Copa America campaign will begin five days later against Jamaica.