Steve Staunton is missing many top players for the US tour

Nine uncapped players are in the squad for the two-game American tour, with the Irish playing Ecuador on Wednesday night and Bolivia on Saturday.

Staunton is urging all his players to contend for places in next season's competitive squads.

"They're out here to prove they're good enough - some look closer than others but it's down to them to try," he said.

With Euro 2008 qualifiers against Slovakia and the Czech Republic coming up in September, a touring squad already missing 25 possible players through injury, personal commitment or the need for rest now presents an opportunity for otherwise overlooked players to shine.

Nine uncapped players are in a 20-man panel captained by Kevin Kilbane for the games against Ecuador at Giants Stadium in New Jersey and Bolivia at the Gillette Stadium near Boston.

"They've all done very well," Staunton added as the squad completed training at Rutgers University.

"We know about them, we've had most of them monitored and they've come in here and done very well for themselves.

"It's given me a nice little headache for August and September.

"Kevin Kilbane's probably got double, triple the whole squad in caps.

Staunton revealed he had a "good idea" of the make-up of his team to face Ecuador and that he hoped to use as many of his travelling players as possible over the course of the two friendlies.

"We're only allowed to use six subs so we'll try and give everybody a run," he said.

"They've all been very good to come out, they're all keen and eager and it would be nice to give everyone a run.

"Whether it happens or not, I don't know. We'll see how the first one goes and take it from there."