As is so often the case, Marcelo Bielsa is making a huge impact in his current role and, fortunately for Uruguay, it has been a positive one so far.

Despite being knocked out of the Copa America semi-finals by a 10-man Colombia, Bielsa will be looking to lead La Celeste back to the World Cup, with the dreaded memories of missing out in 2006 long in the past.

However, as is often the case with Bielsa, controversy follows and last week's bombshell quotes from Luis Suarez have added to the off-field drama.

The Uruguayan legend claimed there was a toxic atmosphere around Bielsa, causing rifts and divisions within the squad, and while business continues as usual, it is certainly something to keep an eye on in the coming months.

The aforementioned defeat to Colombia was high drama, with the post-match brawl that ensued leaving Bielsa without most of his key players for the two qualifiers last month.

Nevertheless, Uruguay managed two 0-0 draws against Paraguay and Venezuela, and although they have dropped to third behind Colombia, they are still the continent's top scorers with 13 goals and have now gone more than eight hours without conceding a goal in qualifying since their match against Colombia on Matchday 3.

However, while Peru are in dire straits, Uruguay will know that this is not an easy place to visit, having won just one of their last five competitive visits.

The hosts have lost just two of their last 10 qualifiers at home, but both of those defeats came in the current campaign, and Peru look set to miss out once again.

Jorge Fossati's side remain at the bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifying table, having scored just twice and picked up just three points so far.

For a team that reached the 2018 finals and the 2019 Copa America final, it's been a steep decline for the Blanquirroja, who are already six points off the intercontinental play-off spot, the route they took in 2022 qualifying, losing at the final hurdle.

Peru did hold Colombia to a draw here last month when Luis Diaz's late strike denied them victory, but they were poor in Ecuador a few days later, losing 1-0 and managing just two shots on target in the entire 90 minutes.

Peru will be without some of their most experienced players, with record capped player Yoshimar Yotun out long-term and Leganes' Renato Tapia injured late last month.

Fossati will also be without Miguel Trauco and Anderson Santamaria at the back, as well as attacking trio Gianluca Lapadula, Yordy Reyna and Santiago Ormeno, with 35-year-old Horatio Calcaterra the oldest member of the squad.

Suarez's last appearance for Uruguay came last month, as he has since retired, and Bielsa is still without a number of key players due to sanctions imposed following the Copa America brawl.

Rodrigo Bentancur will miss both games this month as he serves the second half of his four-match ban, while Jose Maria Gimenez and Matias Olivera will serve the last of their three-match suspensions here to ensure both are in the squad for next week's clash with Ecuador.

Darwin Nunez received the heaviest punishment, but having served two of his five-match ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has suspended it while it investigates the matter, meaning the Liverpool man will be available for this month's matches.

Ronald Araujo is also banned, but is unavailable due to injury, while there are other defensive problems, with Sebastian Caceres and Lucas Olaza forced to withdraw with injuries of their own.

Peru possible starting lineup:

Gallesse; M Araujo, Zambrano, Callens; Advincula, Cartagena, Calcaterra, Pena, Lopez; Valera, Flores

Uruguay possible starting lineup:

Rochet; Nandez, Varela, Bueno, Saracchi; Valverde, Ugarte, De Arrascaeta; Pellistri, Nunez, M Araujo

Prediction:Peru 0-1 Uruguay

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