Southampton: On-loan Targett set for Wembley play-off final
By Marc Walker
Southampton Left-Back Matt Targett is set for a play-off showdown as his current loan side Fulham face Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
The match at Wembley sees the two sides battle for promotion to the Premier League and winning is reportedly worth around £160m in additional revenue to the victors.
Whichever team comes out on top will join already promoted Wolves and Cardiff City as opponents for Southampton in the top-flight next season.
Targett has made 20 appearances for Fulham since joining from the Saints in January and undoubtedly gained some valuable experience whilst at Craven Cottage.
He has built a good relationship on the left-flank with teenage prodigy Ryan Sessegnon and given the 18-year-old freedom to influence attacks more. Targett has made a good impression in London and produced some strong performances to contribute to the team’s excellent campaign.
Next: Saints confirm pre-season tour of China
More from Saints Marching
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
- It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
- Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
- A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse
It will certainly be an interesting dilemma for the 22-year-old if Fulham are to be promoted. He will have a decision to make as to whether he wants to stay with Saints and fight for his place or move on for regular game-time.
Competition at Left-Back at St Mary’s and injuries have limited the amount of matches that Targett has played on the South-Coast.
20 appearances in the 2015/16 season were followed by just eight a year later as a Hamstring injury wrote off seven months of his campaign. Ryan Bertrand has always been first pick at full-back too, with Sam McQueen also featuring at times.
Targett has represented England Under-21s 13 times and is highly thought of as a product of the famed Saints youth academy.
He has risen up through the ranks at St Mary’s after joining the club at the age of seven and become one of a high percentage of graduates to break into the first-team.
Fulham play an attractive brand of football under manager Slavisa Jokanovic, and this seems to benefit all of their players including Targett. He has good quality when in possession and often produces some pinpoint early crosses for Cottagers frontman Alexsandar Mitrovic.
The clash at Wembley sees the fourth and third placed teams face off, and the result could ultimately determine whether Targett will be an opponent or squad member for Saints in 2018/19.