Matt Doherty has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Finland and England in the Nations League later this month.

The Wolves full back was widely criticised for his performances against England and Greece last September, prompting Irish manager Heimir Hallgrímsson to exclude the 32-year-old for the October trips to Helsinki and Athens, with Dara O’Shea starting a right back.

Séamus Coleman’s return to fitness, without playing a single minute for Everton, sees the Ireland captain return to Hallgrímsson’s 23-man panel that welcomes Finland to the Aviva Stadium next Thursday before Lee Carsley’s final match as interim England manager at Wembley on November 17th.

Veteran defender Shane Duffy also returns, instead of Andrew Omobamidele, while Ireland under-21s captain Andy Moran and in-form Stoke City striker Tom Cannon are recalled.

Moran, who is having an impressive season on loan to Stoke from Brighton, could come straight into the Ireland team in a role previously filled by Finn Azaz and Troy Parrott. Aberdeen’s Jamie McGrath does not make the cut, while Will Smallbone, Robbie Brady and Chiedozie Ogbene are ruled out through injury.

Festy Ebosele replaced Ogbene to good effect in the victory over Finland and defeat to Greece. He can also cover right back.

Doherty’s exclusion will come as a surprise to the 47-times capped Dubliner, who said that Hallgrímsson told him he was only dropped last month so other potential right backs could be looked at before next year’s World Cup qualification campaign.

“That is exactly what he said to me,” Doherty told the the42.ie. “I just haven’t been playing that much so I don’t really have an argument with things at the moment.

“But obviously I should be in the squad, even if I’m not playing or not going to play I should still obviously be in there,” he said. “But yeah, I’m patient. I wasn’t happy, but I got to spend time with my kids. I do expect to be in the next squad.

“I said to him ‘yeah, I felt disrespected in the last camp’ because in the second game [Greece] he was playing a centre back at right back [Omobamidele] ahead of me. And that’s not possible. So, we spoke about it and we’re fine so I should see them in November.

“It would have to take a lot to hurt my feelings. I’ve got thick skin and that. At the end of the day, if he doesn’t want to pick me it’s his decision. I’ve played zero minutes in the last four games. What could I say to that?”

Doherty now has zero minutes for Wolves in the last six games but Coleman has not played a game since the 2-0 loss to England on September 7th.

Republic of Ireland Squad – Finland & England

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City)

Defenders: Séamus 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 Brom), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andy Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton).

Forwards: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton), 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 Brom).

Fixtures – Uefa Nations League

Thursday, November 14th: Ireland v Finland, Aviva Stadium, 7.45

Sunday, November 17th: England v Ireland, Wembley Stadium, 5.0