Doris Makes Ireland Squad While Joe McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has selected skipper Doris in his Irish roster for the autumn internationals, but Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since having shoulder surgery in early May, recently returned to provincial training, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to face New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.

Second row Joe McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot injury suffered during the opening British and Irish Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash also miss out due to fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation following the summer tour.

Leinster forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-man group, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says new Munster pair Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "reserves".

Following facing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world title holders South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the veteran members and for the newcomers on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after a break to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking selection, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half spot. The fly-half role is remains up for grabs, as the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

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

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained the national side to the summer international wins over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a recall for the western province's Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

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

Wingers James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. The winger shone on his national team debut during the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and the Lobos.

Paddy McCarthy is the only fresh addition in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of Leinster's three league games this season and featured in Ireland A's defeat by the English in the English city earlier this year.

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

Munster lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is retained, while veteran Northern province lock Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests during the tour, is set to cover for Doris if the captain fails to recover full fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The Ireland squad will assemble in Dublin on the start of the week before flying to Chicago on the following day.

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

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

Kick-off times

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