Ben Dinnery has claimed that Matt Targett could be fit for Newcastle United this weekend if he passes a late fitness test.
Newcastle have made three signings so far this summer, one of them being the permanent transfer of Matt Targett, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Magpies, where he featured 17 times in the Premier League.
However, Targett missed the second game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion with a slight hamstring issue, meaning that Dan Burn had to fill in at left-back, allowing for new signing Sven Botman to come into the side in the heart of the defence.
Whilst speaking on the Premier FPL injury YouTube channel, Dinnery claimed that even if Targett does pass the fitness test, Eddie Howe might still opt for Burn at left-back.
“He’s [Targett] had a hamstring-related issue, he will face a late fitness test, however, my own personal thinking is even if he is passed fit, we will see Dan Burn at left-back with Sven Botman sitting centrally alongside Fabian Schar,” Dinnery said.
Would you start Targett if fit?Yes
No
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TIF Thoughts on Dinnery’s comments…
With Targett potentially being fit for the clash against Premier League champions Manchester City this weekend, it will be interesting to see if Howe changes his back four after they kept an impressive clean sheet on the road against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Newcastle have had a promising start to the season, keeping two clean sheets in two games, so if Targett is passed fit to play, it is certainly a good headache for Howe to have in terms of having several good options to choose from at the back.
Burn and Targett were both brought into the side last January, and helped them climb out of the relegation zone into 11th place, so with the introduction of Botman, when all of his defenders are fully fit, Howe might not yet know what his strongest defence is.