Eddie Howe has already hinted at the differences between last year’s pre-season preparations and this years but now Matt Targett has shared what he feels about Newcastle United’s off-season.
There’s no doubt that Eddie Howe will have meticulously planned as much of Newcastle‘s pre-season as he was able, he’s not the type of person to leave anything to chance, but even he has admitted that the Premier League Summer Series presented some challenges to his preparations.
However, Matt Targett doesn’t feel that all the extra travel and PR engagements have done anything to affect the squad’s fitness and mentality.
Targett feels the Newcastle squad are better prepared than last season
Speaking after the 2-1 over Brighton last night Targett reflected on the Summer Series, telling NUFC TV: “It’s been brilliant. The warm-weather training is good for the body so everyone’s in a much better place than I’d say last preseason and when you play the quality of the opposition we have out here it gets us in good shape ready for the start of the season.”
Targett had a great game against Brighton last night making some excellent last-ditch tackles but also showing his fitness when Kaoru Mitoma raced clear following a Newcastle corner. Targett ran full-tilt to get back and do enough to ensure Nick Pope had a chance to keep the score at 1-0.
After Dan Burn took his place in the starting line-up last season after picking up a heel injury, Targett looks determined to regain his left-back spot, in spite of all the talk of Newcastle looking to recruit for that position this summer.
So far in pre-season Targett has looked very solid and extremely fit, which seems to be a trend in the squad. If the league came down to athleticism then Newcastle would be pushing for the title that’s for sure, but obviously there’s a lot more involved and that’s the bit that’s down to Eddie Howe now.
Howe has spoken many times of the fitness levels within the group saying that many players have come back this summer fitter than ever, so now it’s time to get them drilled to play the way he wants and of course, settle on his starting eleven.
Whether Matt Targett makes it into the line-up to face his old club Aston Villa on the opening day of the season remains to be seen but I feel he has definitely given Howe plenty to think about.
Eddie Howe still wants more defensive options at Newcastle this summer
The back five of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn was so good last season Howe would have been mad to change it, which was bad news for Targett, but Howe could shake things up.
Even Jamaal Lascelles has looked good in pre-season, maybe not quite good enough to force Schar out of the team but definitely good enough that it won’t be cause for too much panic should the club captain be forced to step in.
Of course Howe isn’t done in the transfer market yet and he could still add to his defensive options which could push Targett back down the pecking order, but with two more friendlies to play, the 27-year-old will have another opportunity to show Howe that he’s ready.
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