Hallgrimsson 'hopes' omitted Doherty will play for Ireland again, as Coleman and Duffy are recalled

LAST UPDATE | 5 hrs ago

MATT DOHERTY REMAINS exiled from the Irish squad ahead of next week’s Nations League games against Finland and England, but Heimir Hallgrimsson has recalled Shane Duffy and captain Seamus Coleman in a squad announced this afternoon. 

Shortly after the squad was announced, Everton manager Sean Dyche said Coleman has suffered a hamstring strain and won’t play this weekend, and is a doubt for next week’s international matches. Hallgrimsson remains hopeful Coleman will be available. 

Meanwhile, Stoke City striker Tom Cannon comes back into the squad, while midfielder Andy Moran secures a promotion after excelling for the U21 side.

Luton Town defender Mark McGuinness retains his place in the squad after having had to miss both of last month’s games through injury.

There is still no place for Matt Doherty in the squad, who is omitted along with Alan Browne. Hallgrimsson said that Doherty has again been left out for reasons of experimentation. 

“The last press conference, I explained and again I’ve said it now: we want to explore other players in that position”, said Hallgrimsson of Doherty’s absence.

“He has a lot of experience that can help us, but like I said, now we want to test other players in these positions, like I told you before the last camp, that we would use these two camps to explore a bit at least, so that’s what we’re doing. 

“We know exactly what he can do.

“He and Seamus have been kind of stuck in the starting XI for Ireland for a long time, they have done really well for the nation We know exactly what he can give us, so we don’t need to see him or test him. This is the last chance before the seriousness starts.” 

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In an interview with The 42 last month, Doherty acknowledged his lack of game-time at Wolves, but said he believed he deserved to be in the Irish squad. 

“To be honest, I didn’t read it, I just heard about it”, said Hallgrimsson when asked about Doherty’s interview. “But listen, all players should feel that they should be playing, they should have the confidence to feel that they should be playing and I would be unhappy if somebody thought that they didn’t deserve to play.” 

Asked whether Doherty will play again for Ireland, Hallgrimsson replied, “I hope so.”

Hallgrimsson said “others are ahead” of Alan Browne in the pecking order, who has suffered for a sluggish start to life at Sunderland. Browne has played all 90 minutes of three of his side’s previous four games, however. 

“Hopefully he gets his full fitness and If he continues to play like yesterday, there’s good times ahead for him”, said Hallgrimsson of Browne. 

With Robbie Brady injured, Callum O’Dowda looks to be the starting left-back in the squad, having impressed the Irish manager with his performances for Cardiff. There is no place in the squad for Ryan Manning, who has started Southampton’s last four Premier League games. 

“He has been playing quite well, so we have been happy with him”, said Hallgrimsson of Manning. “He was close and we are monitoring his situation. It’s good to have a player playing in the Premier League in this position.

“There are more players as well playing well, so we just opted for this squad now, but yes, he was close.

“We have worked with Callum. Callum has been really good playing for Cardiff, Man of the Match performances, and he knows what we are doing. He was quite unlucky, for me, to go home from the first camp, so we still haven’t seen him play, or I haven’t seen him play for us, so that is the priority now.”

Chiedozie Ogbene is injured, and will be sidelined for eight to nine months following surgery on an achilles injury. All of Jack Taylor, Will Smallbone, Jamie McGrath, and Andrew Omobamidele miss out with injury. 

Ireland host Finland on Thursday 14 November at the Aviva Stadium, bfeore travelling to Wembley to play England on Sunday 17 November.

Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers:

Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City)

Defenders:

Seamus Coleman (Everton), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City).

Midfielders:

Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andy Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).

Forwards:

Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tom Cannon (Stoke City, on loan from Leicester City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).

Reporting by Gavin Cooney