Séamus Coleman Omitted as Hallgrímsson Embraces New Era for Ireland

Séamus Coleman will play no part in the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League campaign this month, as head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson named a squad that leans hard into a new era.

The 37-year-old former captain, without a club since leaving Everton at the end of last season, is the standout omission from a panel preparing for games against Kosovo, Israel and Austria. For the first time in more than a decade, an Ireland squad list lands without his name.

Hallgrímsson stressed this is not a farewell, but a pause.

“Neither Séamus nor Robbie Brady have a club so we leave them out for this camp,” he 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 move on, at least for now, with a group that looks younger, rawer, and very different.

Kitching in for injured Collins

At the back, Liam Kitching is the latest English-born, Irish-qualified player to step into the frame. The Sheffield United defender comes in for Ireland and Brentford captain Nathan Collins, who misses out with a calf injury and is expected to be sidelined for around five weeks.

Kitching’s inclusion underlines the ongoing trawl for depth and options, especially with a key leader like Collins out. Around him, Hallgrímsson keeps faith with a familiar defensive core: John Egan, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales and Jake O’Brien among those tasked with holding the line in Pristina, Debrecen and back at the Aviva.

First cap looms for Elding as Lawal backed despite injury

Up front, there is a fresh edge. Owen Elding, the former Sligo Rovers attacker who moved to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last season, is in line for his first senior cap. His call-up is a clear nod to form and potential, and a reward for his step up across the water.

Bosun Lawal is listed as a midfielder, joining Harvey Vale and Jayson Molumby in the engine room, even though he will not be fully involved.

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

That says plenty. Lawal will not drive Ireland from the centre of the pitch this month, but Hallgrímsson clearly sees him as part of the medium-term spine.

Sammie Szmodics, in eye-catching form at club level in recent seasons, is again overlooked. Instead, Rocco Vata returns after an injury lay-off, adding another young attacking option to a forward line that also includes Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, Tom Cannon and Chiedozie Ogbene.

Israel bring Khalaili and Gloukh as off-field issues swirl

Ireland will not be the only side in this group juggling storylines.

Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon named his squad earlier on Thursday, with Arab-Israeli wing-back Anan Khalaili included after a strong start to life at Crystal Palace. The 25 million euro signing from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has settled quickly in the Premier League, working daily alongside Ireland assistant Paddy McCarthy.

Ajax playmaker Oscar Gloukh is also in the Israel squad for their fixtures against Austria in Linz, Ireland and Kosovo in Debrecen, before the return meeting with Ireland at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola. Gloukh featured against Shelbourne in the first leg of the Uefa Conference League qualifiers last month, though he stayed on the bench for the second leg at Tolka Park.

Back in Ireland, access to information about the opposition has its own twist: the official Israel Football Association website is geoblocked.

Turmoil in Kosovo camp ahead of opener

Ireland’s first test comes in Pristina next Thursday, and Kosovo arrive in that game under a cloud.

There are open, bitter disputes between leading players and the federation. Several big names have walked away from the squad in solidarity with Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani, who has publicly cut ties with 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 said.

Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Murić and Juventus midfielder Edon Zhegrova are also believed to have declined call-ups to Franco Foda’s panel. For Ireland, that chaos offers opportunity, but also a warning: wounded camps can be unpredictable.

Ireland squad in full

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)

Nations League fixtures

Thursday, September 24: Kosovo v Republic of Ireland, Pristina, 7.45pm
Sunday, September 27: Israel v Republic of Ireland, Debrecen, Hungary, 7.45pm
Thursday, October 1: Republic of Ireland v Austria, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
Sunday, October 4: Israel v Republic of Ireland, Bačka Topola, Serbia, 7.45pm

Coleman’s name is missing from all of those dates. The question now is whether this is just a brief pause in a remarkable international career, or the first real sign that Ireland are learning to live without their long-time standard-bearer.