Caelan Doris Included in Irish Selection While McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach Andy Farrell has included skipper Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn Tests, but Joe McCarthy misses out.

The captain, absent from play since having shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, but it remains unclear whether he will be ready to face the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1.

Second row McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot injury he sustained during the opening British and Irish Lions Test against Australia in July.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing a hip operation following the Lions tour.

Dublin province prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new player in the 34-man squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped provincial duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "cover".

Following facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 encounter, Ireland host the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for the newcomers on the summer tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented the coach, who returns to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to lead the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking selection, Leinster's Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again compete for the starting fly-half position. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the third fly-half chosen as Farrell opting against calling up Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer Test wins over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for the western province's Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield options. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the youngster is also a frontrunner to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Outside backs Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. The winger impressed on his national team debut over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Ireland pack. The front rower has been in two of his province's three league matches so far and played in Ireland A's defeat by England in Bristol previously.

The 22-year-old was selected in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a international appearance.

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

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

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

Pack (19): Ahern (Munster), Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Province), Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Province), Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Province, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Sheehan (Province), Timoney (Province), Josh van der Flier (Province).

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

Kick-off times

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