Matt Targett did not think his loan move to Newcastle United was going to happen at one point earlier this year. Targett told friends and family as much while back home in Eastleigh but, 36 hours later, the Aston Villa left-back was on his way to Tyneside on deadline day to join the Magpies.
There was not quite so much uncertainty when it came to Targett's permanent deal this summer. In fact, before Newcastle's final game of last season, at Burnley, Targett was one of the first players to learn his fate when Eddie Howe sat him down and told the 26-year-old he wanted to sign him.
Yet, in football, nothing is ever set in stone. Targett, after all, had been surprised by Aston Villa's decision to sign fellow left-back Lucas Digne last January and the defender had already admitted that Newcastle could 'go and get anyone they want' last month.
