Séamus Coleman Excluded as Heimir Hallgrímsson Begins New Ireland Cycle

Séamus Coleman will sit out the Republic of Ireland’s opening Nations League window, a notable omission as Heimir Hallgrímsson pushes ahead with a younger, reshaped squad for games against Kosovo, Israel and Austria.

Coleman, 37, is without a club after leaving Everton at the end of last season, and that lack of competitive training has counted against the long-time captain this time.

“Neither Séamus nor Robbie Brady have a club so we leave them out for this camp,” Hallgrímsson 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.”

The door, then, is not closed. But for now, Ireland move on without their standard-bearer.

New faces, big gaps

The most immediate hole is at the heart of the defence. Nathan Collins, Ireland’s and Brentford’s captain, misses out with a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for around five weeks.

Into that space steps Liam Kitching, the latest English-born, Irish-qualified player to be drafted into the senior set-up. The Sheffield United defender joins a back line that also includes James Abankwah, Joel Bagan, Jimmy Dunne, John Egan, Ryan Manning, Jake O’Brien, Dara O’Shea and Liam Scales.

Up the pitch, there is a first senior call-up for Owen Elding. The former Sligo Rovers attacker, now at Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, is set to win his first cap in a forward unit that also features Adam Idah, Jack Moylan, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott, Rocco Vata and Tom Cannon.

Bosun Lawal’s inclusion is another notable marker of Hallgrímsson’s intent. Officially listed among the midfielders alongside Harvey Vale, Jayson Molumby, Finn Azaz, Conor Coventry, Jason Knight and Jamie McGrath, the Stoke City player is clearly being viewed as a long-term central option.

“I hope so,” Hallgrímsson said when asked if Lawal could 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.”

So Lawal travels, even while not fully fit. Presence over absence; integration over short-term utility.

Sammie Szmodics, by contrast, misses out again, while Vata returns to the fold after an injury lay-off.

Turmoil in Kosovo, star power in Israel

Ireland’s first test comes in Pristina next Thursday, and the build-up in Kosovo has been anything but calm.

There are open, bitter disputes inside Franco Foda’s camp, with several leading players withdrawing in solidarity with Napoli defender Amir Rrahamni. The centre-half has walked away from the national team for as long as the current federation leadership remains in place.

“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,” Rrahamni declared.

Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Murić and Juventus midfielder Edon Zhegrova are also believed to have declined call-ups, leaving Kosovo stripped of some of their most influential figures just as the campaign begins.

Israel, Ireland’s second and fourth opponents in the group, arrive from a very different angle: quietly strengthening, with significant talent emerging.

Head coach Ran Ben-Shimon has named Arab-Israeli wing-back Anan Khalaili in his squad. Khalaili has started the season brightly at Crystal Palace after his €25 million move from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, working day to day under Paddy McCarthy, who also serves on Ireland’s coaching staff. That shared club environment adds an intriguing sub-plot to the meetings in Debrecen and Bačka Topola.

Ajax playmaker Oscar Gloukh is also in Israel’s squad for their games against Austria in Linz, Ireland and Kosovo in Debrecen, and then the “home” tie against Ireland at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola. Gloukh featured against Shelbourne last month in the first leg of the Uefa Conference League qualifiers, although he remained on the bench for the return at Tolka Park.

One curious detail: the official Israel Football Association website is currently geoblocked in Ireland, an off-field wrinkle in an already complex fixture.

Ireland’s 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)

The road ahead

Ireland open away to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday, September 24th (7.45pm), then face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, September 27th (7.45pm).

Austria visit the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, October 1st (7.45pm), before Ireland “host” Israel in Bačka Topola, Serbia, on Sunday, October 4th (7.45pm).

Coleman will watch this one from the outside. The question now is whether this Nations League window marks a brief pause in his international story, or the moment a new Ireland truly takes the reins without him.