Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said it was “tempting” to include Seamus Coleman in his squad for this month’s Nations League matches against Austria and Kosovo despite the defender having not played since June.
Coleman, who has been without a club since leaving Everton in the summer, will instead have what Hallgrimsson called a “hybrid role” in the squad, training with the players but having a “leadership role” alongside the coaching staff.
The 38-year-old has said in recent weeks that he is contemplating retirement but Hallgrimsson said the defender, who has 81 caps, has expressed a desire to “start playing again.”
“Coleman is going to be in a hybrid role this camp and he is going to do the sessions with the players but in a leadership role, in a supportive role with us as coaches,” Hallgrimsson said after announcing a 24-man squad.
“Hopefully that will get him to start playing again and that is our aim to continue to push him to play. He has expressed he wants to do that.
“Obviously tempting [to include him in the playing squad]. How he did after not playing much for Everton makes us believe he can always do well for the national team. We will have to wait and see.”
Captain Nathan Collins has been included after he missed the Republic of Ireland’s opening four League B3 matches with a calf injury.
Everton’s Mark Travers replaces the injured goalkeeper Gavin Bazanu, who withdrew from the last squad in September saying it “would be wrong to participate” in the fixtures against Israel.
Evan Ferguson (ankle), Josh Cullen (knee) and Jaden Umah (thigh) remain injured and are not included.
Harvey Vale returns to the squad after he missed their previous matches, while Hibernian’s Owen Elding will drop to the under-21 squad this window.
Republic of Ireland travel to face Austria in Linz before finishing their Nations League campaign with a home match against Kosovo at Aviva Stadium.
Hallgrimsson’s side sit third in League B3 and have won one of their past four games.