Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says Seamus Coleman is being included for this month’s Nations League matches against Austria and Kosovo in a “hybrid role”, despite the defender not playing since June. Multiple outlets report that the approach is intended to keep Coleman involved with the squad while he is not available as a player.
BBC Sport and Yahoo Sports both focus on Hallgrimsson’s comments that it is “tempting” to include Coleman, framing the move around his current inactivity and the potential value of his presence. Donegal Daily likewise highlights the prospect of a hybrid arrangement that could draw Coleman back into Ireland setup.
Highland Radio adds further squad context, saying Hallgrimsson has named a 24-man squad for the final two games of the Nations League campaign. It reports that captain Nathan Collins returns after missing a previous window with a calf issue, while Coleman is not included as a player but will join the squad to support the team.
