Matt Targett has enjoyed his loan spell at Middlesbrough so far
Middlesbrough’s Matt Targett celebrates scoring(Image: PA)
Matt Targett has confirmed he would like to sign permanently for Middlesbrough, and is hoping he can do enough between now and the end of the season to earn a deal.
Targett is spending the season on loan at Boro and has been an ever-present since Kim Hellberg took over to lead the club’s promotion charge.
Out of contract with parent club Newcastle United in the summer, the 30-year-old has confirmed his desire to stay at Boro permanently, particularly if he can help Boro return to the Premier League.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Friday’s defeat to Millwall, Targett said: “The future? I’m not sure to be honest. I believe I’m done at Newcastle so that chapter is closed.
“Hopefully we get promoted here and there will be a contract for me, but if not I’ve played as much as I can this season so I’ll assess my options.”
A big factor in whether Boro decide to offer Targett a permanent deal or not will likely be his wage demands. Currently on top-flight wages which are being subsidised by Newcastle, the left-back will likely have to accept some kind of pay cut to join Boro permanently, regardless of what division they’re in next term.
Either way, after two years of frustration at St James’ Park, Targett has used this season at Boro to reaffirm his quality, in what’s been an impressive spell on Teesside.
He’s made 37 appearances in total and has started every game since Hellberg arrived, regularly playing through injury in and around Christmas and New Year, while even proving a reliable deputy when Boro were suffering a defensive injury crisis early in Hellberg’s time at the Riverside.
His time at Boro was almost cut short, however. Newcastle were also suffering from depleted defensive options in the new year because of injuries. Though Targett made clear his desire to remain at Boro, Newcastle were forced to keep a Targett recall as an option until the end of the January window.
Targett had made clear to Eddie Howe he wished to remain at Boro, however, and now, two months on, he’s grateful to his former boss for respecting those wishes.
“It was really important to me that I could come here and prove I can play a full season with no injuries,” he said.
“I had a chat with Eddie Howe in January and he was so understanding about my situation, so I thank him for that. He knew it was beneficial for me, that I wanted to keep playing.”
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