Ireland Squad Refresh: Coleman Left Out for Nations League

Séamus Coleman will sit out the Republic of Ireland’s opening Nations League campaign, as Heimir Hallgrímsson named a squad without his long-time captain for the games against Kosovo, Israel and Austria.

Coleman, 37, is currently without a club after leaving Everton at the end of last season. Hallgrímsson has not closed the book on the veteran full-back, but accepted that this window comes too soon.

“Neither Séamus nor Robbie Brady have a club so we leave them out for this camp,” the Ireland manager said. “Séamus will be with us in the future, hopefully as a player. He hasn’t been training with a team so we felt it was appropriate that he sits this camp out. It was more Séamus’ decision as it would not be fair on other players.”

So Ireland head into a new competition cycle with a squad that looks younger, leaner – and noticeably different.

Kitching in, Collins out

At the back, Hallgrímsson has turned to another English-born, Irish-qualified defender. Liam Kitching earns a call-up in place of injured Brentford centre-half and Ireland skipper Nathan Collins, who is sidelined for around five weeks with a calf problem.

Kitching joins a defensive pool featuring James Abankwah, Joel Bagan, Jimmy Dunne, John Egan, Ryan Manning, Jake O’Brien, Dara O’Shea and Liam Scales, with the Sheffield United defender the latest to cross over from the English system.

In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher, Max O’Leary and Gavin Bazunu retain their places, keeping continuity in a department that has quietly stabilised.

First cap beckons for Elding as Lawal backed

Further up the pitch, there is a clear nod to the future. Owen Elding, the former Sligo Rovers attacker who moved to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last season, is set for his first senior cap.

Bosun Lawal is listed among the midfielders alongside Harvey Vale and Jayson Molumby, a sign of where Hallgrímsson sees his long-term role.

“I hope so,” Hallgrímsson said when asked if Lawal can establish himself in midfield. “But he is injured. We rate him so highly that we feel it is necessary that we have him around the squad.”

Even injured, Lawal stays in the room. That says plenty about how the management view his ceiling.

Sammie Szmodics misses out again, but there is better news for Rocco Vata. The Watford forward returns to the set-up after an injury lay-off and joins a forward line that also includes Elding, Adam Idah, Jack Moylan, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott and Tom Cannon.

The midfield group is rounded out by Finn Azaz, Conor Coventry, Jason Knight, Jamie McGrath and Molumby, with Vale adding a left-footed option and versatility.

Turmoil in Kosovo, talent in Israel

Ireland’s first assignment comes against a Kosovo camp in open revolt.

Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani has withdrawn his services in protest at the current leadership of the Football Federation of Kosovo.

“After 10 years, seven as captain, I will not be part of the Kosovo squad as long as the FKK is led by its current individuals,” Rrahmani declared.

He is not alone. Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Murić and Juventus midfielder Edon Zhegrova are also believed to have turned down call-ups from head coach Franco Foda. Ireland arrive in Pristina next Thursday to face a team shorn of some of its biggest names and locked in a very public power struggle.

Israel, by contrast, look settled and dangerous.

Head coach Ran Ben-Shimon’s squad, announced on the same morning, includes Anan Khalaili, the Arab-Israeli wing-back who has made a bright start at Crystal Palace after his €25 million move from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. At Selhurst Park he works under Paddy McCarthy, who also serves on Hallgrímsson’s Ireland staff, adding a small twist of familiarity to the matchup.

Ajax playmaker Oscar Gloukh is also in the Israeli squad for their games against Austria in Linz, Ireland and Kosovo in Debrecen, before Ireland “host” Israel at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola. Gloukh faced Shelbourne in last month’s first leg of the Uefa Conference League qualifiers but stayed on the bench for the return at Tolka Park.

Irish fans trying to do their homework on Israel will hit a wall: the official Israel Football Association website is geoblocked in Ireland.

The road ahead

Ireland’s schedule is demanding and oddly nomadic. They open away to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday, September 24th, travel to Debrecen to face Israel three days later, return to Dublin to meet Austria at the Aviva Stadium on October 1st, then head to Bačka Topola in Serbia for a second “away” clash with Israel on October 4th.

A squad without Coleman, without Collins, and without some familiar attacking names will have to grow up quickly on the road.

Hallgrímsson has made his call. Now the question hangs over this new-look group: can they turn a changing of the guard into a statement start to the Nations League?