Séamus Coleman Left Out as Ireland Enters New Era

Séamus Coleman, the heartbeat of so many Ireland campaigns, will not be there when the Republic step into the Nations League this month. At 37 and without a club since leaving Everton, the long-time captain is the headline omission from Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad for games against Kosovo, Israel and Austria.

This isn’t a curtain call, though. Not yet.

“Neither Séamus nor Robbie Brady have a club so we leave them out for this camp,” Hallgrímsson explained. “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 Coleman steps aside, for now, and a younger, reshaped Ireland group moves centre stage.

New faces, big gaps

In defence, Hallgrímsson has been forced into change. Nathan Collins, the Ireland and Brentford captain, misses out with a calf injury and is expected to be sidelined for around five weeks. Into that space steps Liam Kitching, the latest English-born, Irish-qualified player to be drafted into the green.

There is also a first senior call-up for Owen Elding. The former Sligo Rovers forward, who joined Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last season, is in line for his first cap and gives Ireland another option at the top end of the pitch.

Bosun Lawal, now listed as a midfielder, joins Harvey Vale and Jayson Molumby in the engine room. Hallgrímsson made no secret of how highly he rates the Stoke City man.

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

Sammie Szmodics, despite his club form, is again overlooked. Rocco Vata, by contrast, returns after an injury lay-off and will bolster the forward line.

Turmoil in Kosovo, talent in Israel

Ireland’s first assignment comes in Pristina next Thursday, against a Kosovo side in open revolt.

Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani has walked away from the national team for now, making his stance brutally clear.

“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,” he said.

He is not alone. Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Murić and Juventus midfielder Edon Zhegrova are also believed to have declined call-ups to Franco Foda’s squad. For Hallgrímsson, it means facing a talented but fractured opponent in their opening Nations League tie.

Israel, by contrast, arrive with momentum and high-profile names. Head coach Ran Ben-Shimon’s squad, announced earlier today, 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 doubles as an Ireland coach – an intriguing link ahead of their meetings.

Ajax playmaker Oscar Gloukh is also named. Israel face Austria in Linz before taking on Ireland and Kosovo in Debrecen, and then meet Ireland again in Bačka Topola, where Ireland will play their ‘home’ tie at the TSC Arena in the small Serbian town.

Gloukh has already had a taste of Irish opposition this season, featuring against Shelbourne in the first leg of the Uefa Conference League qualifiers, though he remained on the bench for the second leg at Tolka Park.

Back in Ireland, access to information on the opposition is complicated in its own way: the official Israel football association website is geoblocked in the country.

Ireland squad in full

Hallgrímsson’s 26-man group leans on Premier League and Championship experience, with a smattering of continental flavour and youth.

• Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Max O’Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Gavin Bazunu (Bolton Wanderers)
• Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), John Egan (Hull City), Liam Kitching (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Jake O’Brien (Everton), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic)
• Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Southampton), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Hibernian), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Harvey Vale (Queens Park Rangers), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City)
• Forwards: Owen Elding (Hibernian), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Jack Moylan (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Lincoln City), Troy Parrott (Real Betis), Rocco Vata (Watford), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United)

The road ahead

Ireland’s Nations League campaign opens in Pristina on Thursday, September 24th, against a Kosovo squad at war with itself. Three days later they meet Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, before returning to the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, October 1st to face Austria.

The final act of this block comes on Sunday, October 4th, when Ireland “host” Israel in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

Coleman will watch it all from the outside. Hallgrímsson insists the door remains open. The question now is whether this new-look group can grow quickly enough to make his return a choice, not a necessity.