Swans man's season likely over as Matos speaks out on sporting director search

The defender has headed back to parent club Chelsea for treatment on an injury.

Samuels-Smith has made eight appearances for the club since making the temporary switch from the Premier League side but his stay in south Wales appears over.

Matos says the likelihood is he will not feature again as they head into the final rounds of the Championship campaign.

"He had a soft-tissue injury and his recovery is in the hands of Chelsea," Matos said.

Zeidane Inoussa, Josh Key and Ethan Galbraith also remain out.

Meanwhile, Matos addressed the club's search for a new sporting director. This week saw Adam Worth leave the club as head of recruitment.

Swansea confirmed on Thursday that he had left his position and that the process to appoint a sporting director had started.

"Swansea City can confirm the club is currently going through a recruitment process to appoint a sporting director," a statement began.

"We can also confirm that global head of analytics and recruitment Adam Worth has left the club.

"We will make no further comment until that the process of appointing a sporting director has reached its conclusion.

"Once we are in a position to announce the successful candidate, we will formally outline the club’s senior football management structure in order to provide transparency and clarity for supporters."

Matos was quizzed on events at his pre-Southampton press conference on Thursday, saying the most important factor in their search was to bring stability to the club.

"I had a good professional relationship with Adam," Matos said. "Regarding the change, the club is always trying to find the best ways to give the players the best possibilities to succeed. That's what the ownership is trying to do.

"They always find the best ways to improve the club. My focus is on the pitch, what we need to improve, collectively and individually. How much we can still squeeze out of this season, how much we can squeeze out of the squad we have at the moment, for that we need all the departments and everyone to have the same vision."

Asked about a new appointment of a director of football, he added: "It's the same answer.

"I think it is quite clear that, at least when the owners present to me the project, the idea is to improve, to step forward in a way that every department becomes more professional, every department improves on what it can deliver in support of the team.

"There is a culture they are trying to build, we are trying to build as a club. Having a sporting director will help for sure in terms of structure. I'm really happy with how the structure is at the moment, but you can always improve. Then it's about getting the right person to come."

Matos, who says the decision to appoint a new director is a positive one, says the important thing is to bring stability to the structure to the club. "That's something we all want as a club," he added.

"To build for the future. All clubs change structures - it's about what you do with that change."