Newcastle United endured some rather miserable luck on the injury front last season.
In fact, the situation got so bad at Newcastle last season that pundit Joe Cole even questioned exactly what was going on behind the scenes at the club.
Indeed, the poor luck has continued for Eddie Howe this season, albeit the situation is nowhere near as bad as last time out.
Still, the likes of Callum Wilson and Emil Krafth have both suffered reasonably long-term injuries this season.
Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, meanwhile, are yet to have recovered from the serious knee problems they suffered during the 2023/24 campaign.
One player, however, has returned.
Matt Targett made his first competitive appearance since November 2023 when coming on against Aston Villa on Boxing Day and was even deployed at right-back, the opposite flank to where he usually plays.
It’s fair to say the Newcastle United manager was delighted.
Eddie Howe delighted as Matt Targett finally recovers from injury for Newcastle United
Speaking to Newcastle World after the Villa game, Howe said: “He’s had injury troubles but he’s come back and trained really, really well. He’s trained as a left-back but today we knew with Tino [Livramento]’s illness we needed him potentially if Kieran [Trippier] couldn’t make it all the way through the game.
“Our plan pre-game was to put him on in that position and he never let us down, I thought he was excellent. He’s got the experience to play on that side despite being very left-footed.”
Newcastle United are struggling to sell Matt Targett
As much as Howe might rate the player, it would hardly be a surprise to see someone like Targett sold given his lack of game time and the fact there are some brilliant options at full-back.
Newcastle may also need to raise money through player sales before they buy again, such are the PSR limitations in play.
Still, actually selling the former Southampton youngster is another thing entirely. It does not look an easy process.
The Athletic have previously claimed Targett’s lack of action due to injury and his high wages means there isn’t a huge amount of interest in the player right now.
In an ideal world, perhaps he would go. Still, now fit again, perhaps Howe can make use of him going forward.
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