Sanchez makes use of top-class facilities

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez has made sure his team will be well prepared for their friendly against Uruguay at the Giants Stadium, in New Jersey, tomorrow.

The players will use the top-class facilities at Kean University for a training session on the eve of the match.

The centre-piece of the complex is an impressive 3,000-seater stadium.

Kean soccer coach Tony Ochrimenko believes the province will be thrilled with what is on offer. He also expects a good turn-out at the friendly.

He said: “The interest from the local community is quite high. There is a large Hispanic population in the area from Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador.”

Over the years the university has played host to a number of international sides – Uruguay also trained there this week. So too have the United States, France, Mexico as well as Inter Milan and Benfica.

Sanchez has handed first senior call-ups to six players for the tour of the United States, which also takes in a match against Romania in Chicago on Friday.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Sammy Clingan, 22, and Burnley’s 19-year-old Kyle Lafferty have been rewarded for their good form at under-21 level and Doncaster goalkeeper Alan Blayney is another new face.