Veteran Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was back in training Thursday following a stomach bug that kept him off the practice pitch the day before.

The 35-year-old had stayed in the gym and missed both Uruguay training sessions on Wednesday after waking up with a "digestive problem", the team's press office had said. The former Manchester United and Inter Milan forward, who was one of the stars of the last World Cup in South Africa when he scored some stunning goals and picked up the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament, took part in stretching exercises and work with a ball alongside his team-mates during the 15 minutes training at the Sete Lagoas stadium was open to the media.

Star striker Luis Suarez, who finished top scorer in the English Premier League with Liverpool this last season, also trained with his team-mates but is not expected to be fit for Saturday's Group D opener against Costa Rica in Fortaleza. Suarez, 27, is struggling to recover from a knee operation he underwent on May 22 for a meniscus problem.

Should Suarez miss out, Forlan's participation would be essential alongside Paris Saint-Germain's record signing Edinson Cavani, reportedly a Man United transfer target this summer. Another player who trained normally on Thursday was veteran centre-back Diego Lugano, who had also been struggling with an injury. It was the last training session before Oscar Tabarez's team were due to travel to Fortaleza later on Thursday.