Matt Targett’s Middlesbrough future is in doubt ahead of January, when Newcastle United have a recall option
Matt Targett of Middlesbrough(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has not spoken to Matt Targett about a potential recall from Middlesbrough next month, with the Magpies boss keen to let the defender focus on his football for the time being.
Targett has been a key player for Boro this season, since joining on a season-long loan from Newcastle. He’s scored twice, having played every game he’s been available for.
It follows his admission in the summer of two frustrating years on Tyneside where he fell down the pecking order after recovering from an injury and struggled for game-time.
However, Targett’s Boro future has been thrown into doubt, with Howe admitting on Wednesday evening that they may consider activating their recall clause in January, as they suffer from an injury crisis.
But on Friday at his latest press conference, Howe had positive injury updates, with Lewis Hall potentially back for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea, while Tino Livramento’s knee injury is not as serious as first feared.
Asked once more about potentially recalling Targett, Howe said: “We will let him concentrate on his football. We will have those conversations if and when we need to.
“We don’t want to recruit anybody to fix a short term need to create a long term problem. I think we will make decisions on what that injury situation looks like in the first week of January.”
Given his strong performances this season, both at left-back and centre-back, Boro are hoping that Targett is allowed to remain on Teesside for the season. They’ll be making contingency plans just in case though.
With Targett likely to be cover at best if he were to return to St James’ Park, he too will be hoping to stay at Boro. With only six months left on his Newcastle contract, he’s effectively playing for his future this season at the Riverside.
The Daily Mail’s Newcastle United correspondent Craig Hope reported on Thursday evening that, as things stand, Targett is more likely to be allowed to stay at Boro for the season unless Newcastle’s injury crisis worsens by January.
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