Newcastle United news: Matt Targett tipped to dazzle after ‘massive’ claim – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed the loan capture of left-back Matt Targett is “really shrewd business” for Newcastle.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 26-year-old will provide a “solid” equilibrium with fellow January signing Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle confirmed on transfer deadline day (31 January) that they had signed Targett from Aston Villa until the end of the season.
The former England under-21 international had made 17 appearances for Villa this season but was displaced in Steven Gerrard’s side following the signing of Lucas Digne last month.
Whelan praised Newcastle for moving “swiftly” to secure a “great value” deal for the out-of-favour full-back.
He insisted Targett will make a “massive difference” in a struggling Magpies defence.
“Gerrard set his stall out with him very quickly at Aston Villa,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He didn’t waste any time getting Digne. That obviously spelt the end for Targett’s first-team place.
“Newcastle will have seen that, and they didn’t hang around – they got the deal done quickly. It’s really shrewd business. They know he’s a really consistent performer.
“He’s not the most glamorous full-back – but he’s solid, and that’s what they need right now.
“They’ve gone out there and identified that they need the balance between him and Kieran Trippier, and they’ve done it very swiftly and got great value out of a loan until the end of the season.
“I think he’ll make a massive difference for them, he’ll stiffen up that defence big time.”
Targett is likely to supplant the likes of Jamal Lewis, Paul Dummett, and Matt Richie in Eddie Howe’s pecking order.
Newcastle sit 18th in the Premier League – one point from safety.
In other news, second star to be axed from Magpies’ 25-man squad after failed transfer.