Heimir Hallgrimsson said that including Seamus Coleman in the Republic of Ireland squad would have sent out the wrong message ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.
Coleman has been included in Everton's matchday squads at the start of the Premier League campaign, however, he has been lacking game time with compatriot Jake O’Brien playing at right back for the Toffees.
As a result, Coleman was [overlooked from Hallgrimsson's 23-man squad](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0826/1530207-coleman-misses-out-as-ogbene-and-bazunu-return/) for the upcoming double-header against Hungary and Armenia, but the manager admitted that it is never easy leaving the experienced defender out.
Hallgrimsson began his press conference with an overview of how things were going ahead of the short, sharp campaign, and admitted that he struggled to get the squad down to 23.
The manager put it down to the fact that so many players are playing, and more importantly playing well, citing player of the match performances, while also noting that several were playing captains' roles in their clubs.
Coleman, of course, would have added an even deeper level of experience to the group, however, he will not be involved for the upcoming games.
"No, it's always tough to leave Seamus out, no matter what, and there's not many here with the experience he has," said Hallgrimsson, when asked did the level of leadership in the squad make it easier to exclude the Everton man.
"We really wanted to include him, and hopefully next camp he will be in the squad, but you would always want a player with his quality and experience to be in the squad."
Hallgrimsson visited the Everton training camp last week and spoke to the Irish contingent, and was pleased to hear that Coleman is fit and ready to go, impressing at training and in line to play in an upcoming League Cup match.
Hallgrimsson had nothing but good things to say about the former captain, and, as mentioned, fully expects him to play a role at some stage throughout this qualifying campaign.
"We went to Everton training ground on Friday and spoke with our players there, and the coach, and he's close to playing," said Hallgrimsson.
"He is in the squad, his numbers and training are good, and he's eager to start, he really wants to come and help us, and he knows the importance of this camp.
"It just shows his mental strength as well, coming from a bad injury, and just returning back to the Premiership, hopefully he'll get his minutes and he might even play League Cup tomorrow, we'll see.
"But once he starts playing, of course we really want to have him in the squad, but it would just be a wrong example picking a player that hasn't played for almost a year."
Seamus Coleman in action for Ireland back in 2024
And that was the message to all the players who failed to make it into this squad, with Hallgrimsson urging the fringe to remain ready in the build-up to these games and going into future camps.
Robbie Brady, Max O’Leary, Will Smallbone and Andrew Omobamidele are missing through injury, while Hallgrimsson namechecked several others in the mix, including Callum O’Dowda, Jayson Molumby and Festy Ebosele.
"There's a lot of good midfielders, (Jayson) Molumby, (Andy) Moran and Conor (Coventry), all similar players," said Hallgrimsson, when speaking about Killian Philips’ inclusion.
"I guess everybody knows Killian came in in the summer with a lot of energy, so sometimes you need that in the team at certain moments in the game.
"Bosun Lawal comes in with physical presence, has done brilliant for Stoke in the opening of the season, and Jack Taylor is playing regularly now for Ipswich, starting all games.
"Listen, probably a lot of these players will be unhappy not to be selected, and in a way I understand that, but like we said, these games will come fast, and we definitely will need these players in the next two camps.
"So I hope everybody will be ready when they're called upon. Another thing as well is that some players will have two games in their clubs before they meet up on Sunday here, so a lot of things can happen, and I hope everybody is ready to rock with us if they're called upon.
"But we need all these players, and that's why we've given so many players a chance to play and show what they can do."
As for the two games, starting with Hungary before the long away trip to Armenia, Hallgrimsson said that he will be eyeing six points but will be happy with four to take into the October games.
"Six is better than four, but we would survive with four," said the manager. "But it's just how this competition is, normally it takes a year.
"It's almost two months and it's over. September, October, November, early November is the last camp, and just the tiny details, missing a player, can make a huge difference in this campaign, and let's just hope that everybody will be fit and flying these three months for us.
"But given that we win these games, everybody will be chasing us until the end of the campaign. If we don't, we will be chasing others. So that's just how it is, and it's always tougher to be chasing than leading."