Newcastle United star ruled out for ‘a number of weeks’ after suffering ‘nasty’ injury
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Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett is facing up to four weeks on the sidelines after suffering from a heel injury.
The 27-year-old signed from Aston Villa on a permanent basis in the summer after impressing during his half-season loan spell last campaign.
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Hide AdHowever, after suffering from a minor injury and illness in the early part of the season, Targett lost his spot to Dan Burn and hasn’t started a Premier League match since September.
Targett had been pushing for a recall whilst nursing his heel injury but the pain in recent weeks has become too difficult to manage.
After previously being unable to provide a timescale on the former Southampton man’s recovery, Howe gave a little more detail after the goalless draw at Arsenal.
“I think Matt’s going to be out for a number of weeks,” Howe said. “It’s a nasty injury.
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Hide Ad“I would say the name of it, but I can’t pronounce it, but it is a nasty injury. It’ll probably be a minimum of a month, possibly more.”
It means Burn is set to continue at left-back for the foreseeable future, a move that has paid off for Howe so far after the Blyth-born defender and his teammates kept a sixth successive clean sheet at the Emirates.
It was the first time Arsenal have failed to score in a Premier League match this campaign as United ended their 100 per cent home record.
“He gives us so much as a team, said Howe speaking about Burn. “I can’t speak highly enough of him, firstly as a lad. I think tonight typifies that because the first couple of minutes in the game he’s up against a top opponent.
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Hide Ad“He gave him a couple of problems but Dan is wise and experienced enough to adjust his game and find a solution to that problem.
“Aerially, he’s very good, obviously. Physically, he’s very good but he’s a leader and his voice is key for us.
“The back four has just found a way to gel really nicely together and without the protection of the other players makes it a lot harder. It really is a collective effort.”