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Middlesbrough have made their seventh signing of the summer after bringing Matt Targett in on a season-long loan from Newcastle.
Boro have already recruited Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain, Abdoulaye Kante, Sontje Hansen, Sverre Nypan and Adilson Malanda this summer, while Hayden Hackney is still being linked with an exit.
Ex-Southampton, Aston Villa and Fulham left back Targett boasts a wealth of Premier League experience, and could make his debut against former top flight side Sheffield United this Saturday as Rob Edwards’ side welcome them to the Riverside.
Ruben Selles is in charge of the Championship’s basement club currently, but if Targett does play this weekend, Blades fans will be reminded of the time former boss Chris Wilder gave a frustrated post-match interview about an incident involving the defender from 2020.
Chris Wilder annoyed by double jeopardy rule stopping Matt Targett red card
Sheffield United faced Aston Villa in September 2020 in an empty stadium due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The Blades had endured what was then the worst start to a Premier League season ever, suffering the fifth defeat in a row against the Villans with a 1-0 loss at Villa Park.
The sides were separated by an Ezri Konsa header, despite United winning a penalty. The South Yorkshire outfit’s day was made worse when John Egan got sent off after 12 minutes.
Wilder felt referee Graham Scott should have sent Targett, then at Villa, off as well as Egan after conceding a penalty, which was later saved by Villa debutant Emiliano Martinez.
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A VAR review showed Targett clipped Chris Basham in the box, but the double jeopardy rule – which means players cannot be sent off when giving away a penalty if they were making an attempt to win the ball – meant he only picked up a booking – which Wilder could not believe.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, he said: “The penalty – Egan gets sent off 35 yards from goal [after denying Ollie Watkins a goalscoring opportunity] – Matt Targett makes no effort to win the ball.
“The double jeopardy is only when the opposition player makes a challenge for the ball, the ball is four yards away, so [he can’t reach it] unless he’s got spider legs he can wrap around – and he hasn’t because I’ve watched it.”
Wilder may no longer be at the club, but Targett will be looking to upset the Blades again this weekend if he makes his Boro debut – and he’s keen to get minutes under his belt.
Matt Targett reveals game time a key selling point for Middlesbrough move
29-year-old Targett played just 20 minutes of Premier League football last term.
The former England youth international was hit by a skin disease which kept him out for long periods of the season. Now, he’s keen to get back playing regularly.
“I’m at an age where I want to play,” he told Middlesbrough’s social media team in his first interview following the announcement of his signing. “When I found out Middlesbrough were interested, that was a club that I wanted to come to.
“And the bonus is, they’ve made a brilliant start in the Championship, so I’m looking forward to adding my experience slash quality to the team.”
Targett arrives at the Riverside with Middlesbrough sitting second in the Championship table, with three league wins in three under their belts already.