Exclusive: Alan Hutton suggests rarely-seen Villa player could replace ever-present v Burnley
EXCLUSIVE
Alan Hutton has suggested that Aston Villa manager Dean Smith may need to call upon left-back Matt Targett to help break down Burnley's defence ahead of this weekend's Premier League clash.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Villa and Scotland defender, who left Smith's side at the end of his contract this summer, says that the Clarets can be expected to sit back and frustrate the Villans' forwards this weekend.
Neil Taylor has been the first-choice left-back for Smith this season, playing every minute of the club's Premier League campaign, with Targett having played just twice in the League Cup.
Hutton says that the former Southampton man, who joined the club this summer, has the advantage over his Welsh teammate when it comes to offering a threat in the final third and that his attributes could help provide Wesley with goal-scoring opportunities on Saturday.
Speaking of Targett's attacking qualities, Hutton told Football Insider: "I think that's probably the thing that Targett's got better (over Taylor). When you've got a six-foot-three, powerful striker, he's going to be wanting balls delivered into the box on the regular.
"I think one of his key attributes is delivery so in games, especially in certain games at home, for instance, if we look forward to the Burnley game this week, they might sit in at Villa Park.
"A person who can deliver the ball is what you're going to need to break down certain defences."
Targett has seen his first season at Villa Park affected by injury, with just two unused substitute outings under his belt in the top flight.
He has a total of 43 Premier League appearances from his time at Southampton, where he contributed one goal and six assists across all competitions.