Caelan Doris Makes Irish Squad While Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager the Ireland coach has selected captain Doris in his Irish team for the autumn matches, however lock McCarthy is absent.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in early May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering whether he will be ready to play against the All Blacks in the US on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the opening Lions match against Australia in July.

Northern province player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are also absent due to fitness concerns, while full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after having a hip operation after the summer tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole new member in the 34-man squad, but Irish rugby authorities states uncapped provincial duo Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped western province wing Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

After facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the veteran players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to Georgia and the Lobos," commented Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after a break to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again vie for the starting number 10 position. The fly-half role is remains available, as the two players set to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the third fly-half chosen as the coach deciding not to calling up the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who led the national side to the summer international victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a recall for Connacht's Blade, chosen to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey represent an experienced group of centre options. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the 23-year-old is additionally a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at full-back.

Outside backs James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. The winger impressed on his national team debut over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the sole new addition in the Ireland forwards. The front rower has been in two of his province's three league matches this season and played in Ireland A's loss by England in the English city earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was selected in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a cap.

Southern province lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is retained, while veteran Ulster lock Iain Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to cover for the captain if the captain does not regain full fitness soon enough to play the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in Dublin on Monday before traveling to the US on the following day.

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Province), Boyle (Leinster), Clarkson (Province), Conan (Province), Doris (Province, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Province), G McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Province), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Leinster).

Backline (15): Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Munster), Frawley (Leinster), Gibson-Park (Province), Mack Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Province), James Lowe (Leinster), McCloskey (Province), Tommy O'Brien (Province), Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Province), Ringrose (Province), Jacob Stockdale (Province).

Times BST

• The national team v New Zealand, November 1, Chicago (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v Australia, November 15, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Aviva Stadium (17:40)