Caelan Doris Included in Irish Squad While McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed head coach the Ireland coach has named skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn matches, but lock McCarthy has been excluded.

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

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue suffered during the first British and Irish Lions Test against Australia in July.

Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Calvin Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, and number 15 Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery after the summer tour.

Dublin province prop McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new player in the 34-man group, but Irish rugby authorities says uncapped Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

After playing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their previous meeting, the team host the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the veteran players and for the newcomers on the summer tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to Ireland duty after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will once again vie for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is remains up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first time in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional number 10 chosen with Farrell opting against selecting Leinster's Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer Test wins over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of midfield options. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is additionally a leading candidate to cover for the full-back at number 15.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Stockdale are named. The winger shone on his first Ireland outings over the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Irish pack. The front rower has started a couple of his province's three league matches this season and played in the second string's loss by the English in Bristol previously.

The 22-year-old was included in interim boss O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a cap.

Munster second row Thomas Ahern, who received his first two caps in those matches, is retained, and veteran Northern province lock Henderson returns after sitting out the summer tour.

Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for the captain should the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to face New Zealand.

The national team will meet in the capital on Monday before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Baird (Leinster), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Kelleher (Province), G McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Province), Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

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

Kick-off times

• Ireland v New Zealand, November 1, Chicago (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, November 8, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• Ireland v Australia, November 15, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)