Caelan Doris Included in Irish Team But McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has named skipper Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn matches, but lock McCarthy misses out.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, recently returned to Leinster training, but it remains unclear whether he will be ready to face the All Blacks in Chicago on 1 November.

Lock Joe McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot injury suffered during the opening Lions match against Australia in the summer.

Ulster player Izuchukwu and Munster winger Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery following the summer tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only new member in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states new provincial pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province wing Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "backup".

Following playing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a repeat of their previous encounter, Ireland will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions South Africa in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented the coach, back to national team duties after a break to lead the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again compete for the starting number 10 position. The fly-half role is still available, with Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 selected as the coach deciding not to calling up Leinster's Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of centre options. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and 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 fresh name in the Irish forwards. The front rower has been in two of Leinster's URC league games so far and played in the second string's loss by England in Bristol previously.

The 22-year-old was included in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer selection, but did not earn a cap.

Munster second row Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those matches, is kept in the squad, and experienced Northern province lock Iain Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches during the tour, is set to cover for Doris should the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Province, capt), Furlong (Province), Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Province).

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

Times BST

• The national team v the All Blacks, 1 November, Chicago (20:10)
• Ireland v the Brave Blossoms, November 8, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v Australia, November 15, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• The Irish v the Springboks, November 22, Dublin (17:40)