Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has cast doubt over Matt Targett’s England credentials for the time being.
The 25-year-old was reportedly one of those on Gareth Southgate’s radar as the national team manager deliberated over his recent squad selection.
However, Hendrie has suggested the Villa ace isn’t ready to be fast-tracked ahead of £45m (BBC) Chelsea ace Ben Chilwell and Manchester United’s Luke Shaw just yet.
Since his arrival from Southampton in 2019 for an undisclosed fee (BBC), the left-back has played 61 times for the Villa Park club, including 29 Premier League outings this season – failing to complete 90 minutes just once.
Despite outperforming both Shaw and Chilwell in terms of ground duel success percentage, aerial duel success percentage, clearances and blocks (Squawka) – Hendrie has told Transfer Tavern that Targett still has work to do in order to usurp those ahead of him in the pecking order:
“Shaw has been excellent.
“Chilwell, obviously, his big move and… still feel he’s been a little bit hit and miss but, you know, on the England front, he’s been excellent. I’ve watched three games and that left side really was a standout side for me, for England. So he’s [Targett] got a long way to go still, but he’s certainly heading in that sort of right direction.”
Targett, who is valued at £15.3 million (as per Transfermarkt), has been a linchpin of Villa’s improvement this season under Dean Smith and perhaps personifies the growth within the Villa squad.
Having earned an average rating of 6.88 (Sofascore) across 28 league appearances last season, Targett has already markedly enhanced that figure, averaging 7.11 so far this term.
Capped 13-times at Under 21 level, the Eastleigh born full-back will harbour ambitions of a senior call-up, although this summers European Championships may come too soon.
Does Matt Targett deserve an England call-up?
Yes
No
