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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Joey Carbery restored to Ireland squad as Johnny Sexton a doubt for Italy test

Joey Carbery has returned to the Ireland squad as cover for Johnny Sexton ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico (2.15pm).

Munster out-half Carbery was a shock omission from the group ahead of the campaign, with Ireland head coach opting for Ross Byrne instead and the out-half has impressed off the bench for Sexton in the opening two championship wins over Wales and France.

However, with Sexton continuing his rehab this week after suffering a groin injury early in the second half against France, the Ireland captain could miss Saturday's game.

Thus Carbery has returned to the Test fold after playing for Munster in their big URC victory over Ospreys at the weekend.

First-choice hooker Dan Sheehan and veteran prop Cian Healy are available for the encounter in Rome, having missed the previous game due to hamstring injuries.

But Jamison Gibson Park, Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong will again miss out, while Keith Earls is also absent due to a calf problem and Rob Herring continues to go through graduated return to play protocols after suffering a head injury against France.

Farrell has named a 37-strong squad, with Ulster second row Kieran Treadwell added to the squad for the first time since the November internationals due to the loss of Munster's Tadhg Beirne for the remainder of the championship following ankle surgery.

Leinster second row Joe McCarthy will also miss the rest of the campaign with an ankle problem.

Prolific Leinster flanker Scott Penny has also been added as back row cover. Penny played for Emerging Ireland against the Griquas and Pumas in Bloemfontein.

The players were given four days off after the France game and a 25-man squad returned for a mini-camp at the IRFU's high performance centre in Abbotstown last Thursday and Friday that included a game against the Ireland under-20s on Friday.

Caolin Blade, Gavin Coombes, Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Cian Prendergast, Roman Salanoa and Jacob Stockdale return to the squad having played for their respective provinces in the URC at the weekend.

Backs (17)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 43 caps
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) 1 cap
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 16 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 37 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 9 caps
Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 2 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 10 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 27 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Marys College) 30 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 17 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 11 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 102 caps
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 3 caps
Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)*
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 111 caps (c)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 35 caps

Forwards (20)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 29 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 35 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 25 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 121 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 70 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 33 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 50 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 91 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 6 caps
Scott Penny (Leinster/UCD)*
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps
Cian Prendergast (Connacht/Corinthians) 1 cap
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps
Roman Salanoa (Munster/Shannon)*
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 10 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps

*denotes uncapped player

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