Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Team But McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has selected captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the autumn Tests, but lock McCarthy is absent.

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

Second row McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after not recovering from the foot injury suffered during the opening Lions Test against Australia in July.

Northern province player Izuchukwu and southern province wing Nash are not included because of fitness concerns, while full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation after the Lions tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-player squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union states new provincial duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province wing Bolton will head to Chicago as "backup".

After facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, the team host the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to Georgia and the Lobos," said Farrell, who returns to national team duties after a break to coach the Lions tour to Australia.

In a mostly experienced selection, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still available, as the two players set to play against each other for the first time in Saturday's URC match at Croke Park.

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

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test wins over the Lelos and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Blade, who is preferred to teammate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at full-back.

Wingers 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 Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole fresh name in the Irish forwards. The front rower has started two of his province's URC league games so far and played in the second string's defeat by the English in Bristol earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a international appearance.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and veteran Ulster second row Henderson returns after sitting out the summer tour.

Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for Doris if the skipper fails to recover full fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The national team will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

• Ireland v the All Blacks, 1 November, Chicago (20:10)
• The side v Japan, November 8, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v the Wallabies, November 15, Dublin (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)