‘Kick in the teeth’ – Newcastle United man reacts after he was devastated to be ruled out for nine months
Matt Targett made a significant return to the pitch on Monday night, playing his first game for Newcastle United in nine months as he featured for the under-21s. The 28-year-old left-back had been sidelined since November 1, following a hamstring injury suffered during Newcastle’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. The injury required surgery, which kept Targett out of action for four months. Although he resumed the matchday squad in March, appearing in games against Chelsea and Manchester City, his comeback was short-lived as he soon sustained another serious injury—a torn Achilles tendon. This setback forced him to miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season and the subsequent pre-season.
Targett recently resumed first-team training and played 45 minutes for the Magpies’ under-21s in their 1-1 draw with Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland at Whitley Park. Reflecting on his challenging recovery, Targett shared with NUFCTV, “It’s been a long road to recovery for me, first with my hamstring, then a tear in my Achilles which was a real kick in the teeth. I’ve worked really hard during this time, and I feel fit, strong, and happy to be back. It’s now time to build on the 45 minutes I played.”
The opportunity to play with the under-21s was particularly valuable for Targett, who had missed the entire pre-season. He noted, “It was a great chance to get some minutes, especially after having trained the whole of last week. I looked at the schedule to see where I could get minutes because it’s crucial after missing pre-season. The under-21s game was perfect for that.”
Newcastle’s busy schedule last season, which included Champions League football, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, saw the team play 51 games. Targett was only able to participate in seven of those matches, with just two starts. He admitted, “The whole season was frustrating, but the start of the new season is full of excitement, especially with the Champions League. There are so many opportunities with the number of games, and not being available for them was difficult.”
Targett expressed his gratitude towards Eddie Howe and the coaching staff, who supported him throughout his injury. He said, “The coaching staff has been brilliant ever since I picked up the injury, always checking on me. I can’t thank them enough. I know it’s frustrating for them when I’m not available and it’s frustrating for me as well. Their support has been invaluable.”
After making his return in front of just over 800 spectators at Benton, Targett is now eyeing a first-team comeback, with the Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on August 28 as a potential target. He was an unused substitute in Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Southampton and is expected to be on the bench for the upcoming fixture against AFC Bournemouth.
Looking ahead, Targett said, “I’m working hard to get back with the first team as soon as possible. I had a good week of training, and it’s great to be back with the boys. Being put on the bench and being back at St James’ Park is a big boost. I’ll continue to train, work on my fitness, and look forward to the cup game. But first, we focus on Bournemouth and then hopefully the cup match.”
Targett’s main goal is to have an injury-free season and see where it takes him.