Caelan Doris Included in Ireland Squad But McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed manager Andy Farrell has included skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the fall internationals, but Joe McCarthy is absent.

The captain, who has not played since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, recently returned to provincial training, but it remains unclear if he will be fit to face New Zealand in the US on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot injury he sustained during the opening Lions match against the Wallabies in the summer.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are also absent due to fitness concerns, and number 15 Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation after the summer tour.

Dublin province prop McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole uncapped player in the 34-player squad, however Irish rugby authorities says new Munster pair Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will travel to Chicago as "reserves".

After playing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their previous encounter, the team host the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the veteran members and for those who made their debuts on the summer 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 squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is still available, as the two players poised to play against each other for the first time in Saturday's URC match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional fly-half selected as the coach opting against selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer international victories over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced group of centre choices. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at full-back.

Outside backs Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are named. O'Brien shone on his first Ireland outings during the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over the Lelos and the Lobos.

Paddy McCarthy is the only new name in the Ireland pack. The front rower has been in two of his province's URC United Rugby Championship matches so far and featured in the second string's defeat by the English in the English city earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was selected in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a cap.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while veteran Northern province second row Henderson returns after missing the summer matches.

Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for Doris if the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will meet in Dublin on Monday before flying to the US on the following day.

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

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

Kick-off times

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