Portugal manager Fernando Santos says “Pepe will play, he is a monster” after Danilo Periera fractured his ribs in training ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.
A win will see Portugal progress through to the knockouts in which Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to add one of the only missing medals to his vast collection.
Hoping for an improved display when last out against South Korea, Uruguay will hope their mix of experienced and youthful attackers can combine to give the newly introduced Pepe a torrid time.
Uruguay will make it their priority to go for all three points as Ghana now sit in 2nd place after beating South Korea earlier in the day.
Fernando Santos on Periera potentially being out for the remainder of the tournament: “We do not need to have any drama or cry over it. We are very sad for him. We have to think of him as a human being beyond being a player.”
Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo, who underwent thigh surgery at the end of September, is still not expected to feature on Monday.
Portugal have lost just one of their last 13 group stage games at the World Cup (W7 D5).
Prediction: Portugal 2-1 Uruguay
