Caelan Doris Included in Irish Squad But Joe McCarthy Left Out

Returning head coach Andy Farrell has named skipper Doris in his Irish squad for the fall matches, however Joe McCarthy misses out.

The captain, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, has come back to provincial training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be fit to face the All Blacks in the US on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot issue suffered during the first Lions match against Australia in July.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash are also absent because of injury, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having hip surgery following the Lions tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole uncapped member in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states new provincial duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province winger Bolton will head to Chicago as "backup".

Following facing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, Ireland host the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world champions the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and there's an opportunity for the veteran players and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after a break to lead the Lions tour to Australia.

In a mostly experienced selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again compete for the starting number 10 spot. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley poised to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's URC match at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the third number 10 chosen as the coach deciding not to selecting Leinster's Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test victories over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a recall for Connacht's Blade, chosen to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced cohort of midfield choices. Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. O'Brien impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the only new addition in the Ireland forwards. The loose-head prop has been in two of his province's URC United Rugby Championship matches this season and featured in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was selected in interim boss O'Connell's summer squad, but did not earn a international appearance.

Munster second row Thomas Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those matches, is retained, and experienced Ulster lock Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is set to cover for Doris if the captain fails to recover fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The national team will meet in Dublin on Monday before flying to Chicago on the following day.

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

Backs (15): Aki (Connacht), Blade (Province), Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Province), O'Brien (Province), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Kick-off times

• The national team v New Zealand, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
• The side v the Brave Blossoms, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v the Wallabies, 15 November, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v the Springboks, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)