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Southampton: Q&A – How has Matt Targett fared since joining Fulham?

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Matt Targett of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on December 26, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Matt Targett of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on December 26, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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A month has passed since Southampton left-back Matt Targett joined Championship side Fulham, so has he fared since his moving to London?

The 22-year-old’s loan move to Craven Cottage came somewhat out of the blue, but a month on it seems like a good move for all parties involved.

Targett spent most of the 2016/17 season out injured and as a result his progress was hindered – in addition to this Ryan Bertrand’s consistent form had left with the England Under-21 international without much game time.

But to get the lowdown on exactly how Targett has started, I spoke to the Fulhamish Podcast and Bleacher Report’s Jack Collins, who has the pleasure of watching the London side every week.

"“Everyone’s been massively impressed and the truth is that he looks like a Premiership player playing a step down. “He’s assured in possession, strong in the tackle and highly tactically aware. It’s potentially that he suits Slavisa’s footballing system, with the ball on the deck and the freedom to roam, but mostly he’s brought a balance and professionalism to the left hand side that massively compliments Fulham’s style.”"

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Matt Targett of Fulham(C) leaves the field after appearing to pick up an injury during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Fulham at Ashton Gate on February 21, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Matt Targett of Fulham(C) leaves the field after appearing to pick up an injury during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Fulham at Ashton Gate on February 21, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images) /

Targett has played nearly every minute of every game since making his debut, and he also grabbed his first goal with a smart header in Fulham’s win over Bolton.

The Eastleigh-born lad was also close to being his side’s Man of the Match in the following game against Aston Villa, with the Cottagers having climbed into the playoffs places since the Saints beat them in the FA Cup at the turn of the year.

One initial positive of Targett’s arrival was that the highly-rated Ryan Sessegnon would have more freedom down the left flank.

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The 17-year-old had plenty of game-time as a winger but in some matches, including against Southampton, the Englishman was deployed a full-back. Jack believes the Saints’ player’s arrival’s has only helped Sessegnon’s progression further:

"“Sessegnon was playing as a winger even before Targett came in but with the right-footed Denis Odoi behind him instead, but what was instantly noticeable was that with Targett overlapping, Sess is freed up to drift inside more, which increases his effectiveness. “There’s tentative talk at Fulham of this being a future left-sided England partnership, which is probably slightly premature but the two have combined superbly thus far and hopefully will continue to do so for the remainder of the season.”"

Aside from injury, one of the main reasons for Targett’s lack of progression was Claude Puel’s preference to use Sam McQueen as back-up to Bertrand. The 23-year-old is naturally a winger and therefore offered more going forward than Targett, with the latter sometimes struggling on the front foot when he was given a chance.

Thankfully, Jack has said that none of these weaknesses to his game have been apparent during his first month in the Championship.

"“After our first conversations about Targett I was slightly concerned about his attacking talents but he’s showed none of the forewarned misdemeanors in an attacking sense! “His early crosses give Fulham another dimension and he’s delivered them into the right areas when called upon to do so. His interchange with Sessegnon has been particularly pleasing and they’ve got the potential to be a really useful pairing for Fulham on that side.”"

The fact that the left-back only left on loan suggests that the club still have plans for him as a member of the senior squad – despite some Southampton fans believing he could’ve been moved on permanently last month.

What will happen in the future remains unclear but for now Targett will return to the south coast this summer – however Jack believes that the London side would jump at any opportunity to sign the 22-year-old.

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"“I think if it’s even possible to get talks going then Fulham should be biting Saints’ hand off – everything we’ve seen of Targett has been positive and if we could keep him, I think that everyone in SW6 would be delighted. “Whether he’d want to make that step is another matter but there appears to be a good young squad here and from what we’ve seen on the pitch and on social media, he’s fitting in well. Fulham should be having the conversation at the very least, but if he continues in this form, I don’t see why Saints would want to sell such an asset!”"

Next up for Fulham is the tricky task of facing run-away league leaders Wolves this Saturday. Meanwhile parent club Southampton face Burnley in a must-win fixture for the Saints – after that is a crucial home game against Stoke.