Doris Included in Irish Squad But Joe McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed head coach the Ireland coach has named captain Caelan Doris in his Irish squad for the fall Tests, but lock McCarthy has been excluded.

The captain, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in the start of May, recently returned to Leinster training, though his fitness is uncertain if he will be ready to play against New Zealand in the US on November 1.

Second row Joe McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot issue he sustained during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in the summer.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, while full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing a hip operation following the Lions tour.

Dublin province prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole uncapped player in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states new Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped Connacht wing Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

Following playing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world title holders South Africa in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the veteran members and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after a break to coach the Lions tour to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking selection, Leinster's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third number 10 selected with the coach deciding not to calling up the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer international wins over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, but the 23-year-old is additionally a frontrunner to deputise for the full-back at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. O'Brien shone on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only new addition in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has started two of his province's three United Rugby Championship matches this season and played in the second string's defeat by England in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in interim boss O'Connell's summer selection, but did not receive a cap.

Munster second row Ahern, who received his first two caps in those matches, is retained, and experienced Northern province second row Henderson is back after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches during the tour, is poised to deputise for Doris if the captain does not regain fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before flying to the US on the following day.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Province, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Province), Iain Henderson (Province), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), G McCarthy (Province), Paddy McCarthy (Province), Porter (Province), C Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Times BST

• Ireland v New Zealand, November 1, Soldier Field (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• The team v the Wallabies, November 15, Dublin (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)