Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Team While Joe McCarthy Left Out

Newly reappointed manager Andy Farrell has included captain Caelan Doris in his Irish squad for the autumn matches, but Joe McCarthy misses out.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in early May, recently returned to provincial training, but it remains unclear whether he will be fit to face New Zealand in the US on November 1.

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

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are not included because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation after the summer tour.

Dublin province forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole uncapped player in the 34-player squad, however Irish rugby authorities says uncapped Munster duo Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

After facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 encounter, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world champions the Springboks in Dublin.

"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 summer tour to Georgia and the Lobos," said Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice number 10 position. The fly-half role is still available, as Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the third fly-half selected with the coach opting against selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained the national side to the summer international wins over Georgia and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield options. Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at full-back.

Outside backs Lowe, Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. O'Brien impressed on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the victories over Georgia and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the only fresh addition in the Ireland pack. The front rower has been in a couple of his province's three United Rugby Championship matches this season and featured in Ireland A's loss by the English in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in interim boss O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a international appearance.

Southern province second row Thomas Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and experienced Northern province second row Henderson returns after sitting out the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for Doris if the skipper does not regain full fitness in time to play New Zealand.

The national team will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

• The national team 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, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)