Future unclear for Waterford FC's Matty Smith

Waterford FC Head Coach Keith Long is still unclear when Matty Smith will make an appearance in a Blues jersey with speculation rife that the attacker, who joined the club from Shelbourne in the transfer window, could potentially miss the whole season through injury.

Smith, who won the Premier League title with Shelbourne last season, was a prime signing for Long, but he underwent surgery on a knee problem in the pre-season, one that the club knew about before opting to sign the 28-year-old.

With nine games down, Smith hasn’t been seen in a Waterford jersey this season and it’s unclear at this time when he could make an appearance as he continues the long road to recovery with a visit to a consultant expected this week.

When asked about Matty Smith after Friday’s game, Long said: “I don’t have when we might see him at the moment, but I can try get you detail later in the week. He is not available to us at the moment. He came into us with an injury and it has turned out to be more significant than we thought having signed him.

“We knew when we were signing him that he needed surgery, but it is taking a little bit longer to heel. It’s so frustrating for both us and also Matty. Not to have him available to us is a big loss. He would give us a different dynamic and we can play a different way. We haven’t been able to call upon him.

“In terms of his return to play and his return to train, he is still a bit off. Listen I can’t give you a timeline just on that at the moment. I’m not trying to dodge the question. He is going back to see a consultant this week and therefore we’ll have an idea hopefully after that when he can return to train and return to play after he sees the consultant”