Doris Included in Ireland Squad But McCarthy Left Out

Newly reappointed manager Andy Farrell has selected skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland squad for the fall matches, however Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering whether he will be ready to face the All Blacks in the US on 1 November.

Second row McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the first Lions Test against Australia in the summer.

Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are also absent due to fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having hip surgery following the summer tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new member in the 34-man squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped Connacht wing Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

Following facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a repeat of their previous meeting, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world title holders South Africa in the Irish capital.

"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 the Lelos and Portugal," commented the coach, back to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again compete for the first-choice fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still available, as the two players set to face off for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship game at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the third number 10 selected with Farrell opting against calling up the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer international victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a recall for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced group of midfield options. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, but the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for the full-back at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. 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 sole new name in the Irish pack. The loose-head prop has started a couple 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 interim boss O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a international appearance.

Southern province lock Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those Tests, is retained, while experienced Ulster lock Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who started each of the Lions matches during the tour, is poised to cover for Doris if the captain fails to recover fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in Dublin on Monday before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

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