Why Matt Targett could prove to be Newcastle’s best signing

Newcastle United’s owners wasted no time in flexing their well-known financial superiority in the now passed January transfer window, supplying recently appointed Eddie Howe with a host of additions.

The signings of Bruno Guimarães, Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn saw an outlay of a combined figure in the region of £90million, but an acquisition free of charge may prove to be the most astute.

On deadline day, the Magpies secured the loan signing of Aston Villa full-back Matt Targett in a straight-forward loan until the end of the season.

Speaking for the first time since the switch, Targett said:

"“I’m delighted to be here. I can’t wait to get going and meet all the fans and hopefully we can have a successful end to the season.”"

"“My family have friends here and they’ve always said it’s a football-mad city, so to experience it and be part of it – I’m really looking forward to it.”"

Targett pushed out the door at Villa Park?

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Villa’s defence the previous three seasons, with his best work coming to the left of Tyrone Mings and behind Jack Grealish last season.

However, upon the arrival of Lucas Digne from Everton last month, the Englishman was abruptly outcast from new boss Steven Gerrard’s plans.

Digne’s transfer seemed an impromptu one for the West-Midlands club, as his deteriorating relationship with the Toffees’ then manager Rafael Benítez left higher-ups at the club with little option but to cash in while they could.

The French international was fast-tracked into the starting XI and therefore spelled the end of what had been a settled period for Targett, who looked to have done little wrong.

A deciding factor in the decision appears to be the latter’s ability going forward, or lack there of, as there is sparse comparison between himself and Digne in that sense.

Since his appointment, Steven Gerrard has made it abundantly clear that he has ambitions of his side playing free-flowing, positive football – a style that requires full-backs who are adept going forward.

What does this mean for Newcastle?

The reason this is relevant to Targett’s eventual switch to Newcastle, is that the player’s exit was less of a slight on himself but more so Gerrard attempting to convey his ambition, which the former Southampton academy graduate wasn’t seen to be able to do.

On Tyneside, Targett’s responsibilities will be more grounded and therefore more suited to his attributes, focusing on defensive output rather than attacking.

His new manager Eddie Howe also favours attacking football but this ambition will likely be implemented over time with survival the first item on the agenda.

In conjunction with the arrival of Kieran Trippier at right-back, Targett offers balance to Howe’s side and the confidence that he possesses reliable servants on either side of his defence.

In addition to this, Trippier poses more of a threat going forward, offering his manager the flexibility to field a hybrid formation that could see Targett slot in as a third centre-back in the event of positive turnovers.

Although the aforenoted move may evade the headlines, there are elements of his make-up that outshine his successor at Villa, leaving potential for his former side to be left red-faced and Newcastle smug with their business.