Newcastle United fresh injury news as fifth player ruled out for rest of Premier League season

Matt Targett has become the latest Newcastle United player to be ruled out of the remaining five Premier League fixtures.

The 28-year-old previously spent four months out with the hamstring injury he sustained during the 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Manchester United in November. Targett returned to the matchday squad for games against Chelsea and Manchester City in early March but hasn’t been involved since the international break.

It was confirmed a few weeks back that Targett had picked up a new Achilles injury. And following further assessment, it has been determined that the left-back won’t play again this campaign.

Asked if Targett would play again before the end of May, United boss Eddie Howe said: “Probably not I’d say at this moment in time. If we rushed him back and really hit the accelerator then he could maybe be back for the last game. But with that in mind it would probably be better to have a full summer to recover.”

He joins Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley in being ruled out of remaining games against Sheffield United, Burnley, Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester United and Brentford.

Frustratingly for Targett, he has started just seven Premier League matches since joining permanently from Aston Villa for £15million in the summer of 2022. In the previous four months when the defender was on loan, he started 16 games.

Targett could be one of the players Newcastle look to move on this summer. Dan Burn has been Howe’s preferred choice at left-back, although has moved back into the centre of defence in recent weeks. Tino Livramento has also featured on the left while Lewis Hall is set to join permanently from Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £28million.