Caelan Doris Included in Ireland Team But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning head coach Andy Farrell has named skipper Caelan Doris in his Irish squad for the autumn internationals, however lock McCarthy misses out.

The captain, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to play against New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.

Second row Joe McCarthy, however, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot issue he sustained during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in the summer.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Calvin Nash also miss out due to fitness concerns, and number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery following the Lions tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole uncapped member in the 34-man squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says new Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

After facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a rematch of their previous meeting, the team will play Japan, the Wallabies and world title holders South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the veteran members and for the newcomers on the summer tour to Georgia and the Lobos," commented Farrell, back to Ireland duty after a break to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the starting number 10 spot. The fly-half role is remains up for grabs, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at Croke Park.

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

At number 9, Farrell has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led Ireland to the summer Test wins over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Blade, chosen to teammate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an veteran cohort of centre options. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is additionally a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at full-back.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. O'Brien shone on his national team debut during the summer with a brace each in the victories over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only fresh name in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has started a couple of Leinster's URC league matches this season and featured in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not receive a international appearance.

Munster lock Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and veteran Ulster second row Henderson is back after missing the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests over the summer, is set to cover for the captain should the skipper does not regain 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 Chicago on the following day.

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

Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Province), Caolin Blade (Province), Casey (Munster), Crowley (Province), Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Province), Mack Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Province), O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Province), Ringrose (Province), Stockdale (Province).

Times BST

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