Matt Targett has revealed the motto Eddie Howe insists on drilling into the Newcastle United players each day. The training regime on Tyneside has become a hot topic since the former Bournemouth boss’ appointment, with Jonjo Shelvey admitting he fell asleep at 8pm every night in the immediate aftermath of Howe's arrival.
Supporters have also been wowed when training footage has emerged from the club’s media channel. Endeavour and meticulousness are themes that have stuck with the 44-year-old throughout his managerial career and that blueprint has worked to great effect so far at Newcastle.
On-loan defender Targett has embodied Howe’s philosophy since arriving in January. The left-back has started all but one game - the fixture against parent club Aston Villa - and supporters are already calling for his move to be made permanent.
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The 26-year-old provided insight into the manager’s coaching methods and shared the message he ingrains into the players daily. “The manager is very keen on intensity and he reminds us every day,” he told BBC Football Daily podcast.
“Before every meeting, as a key point, he says ‘our identity is intensity’. Every day he instils that in us (and) it makes us improve.”
Targett also disclosed how he knows the training has gone up a notch since Howe arrived - because his teammates told him so. He added: “We do shape work every day. Since I've been here, we've been pretty much doing that every week. It makes us better and gives us an understanding of what the manager wants.
“The boys said before I came that the training has gotten so much harder, and the sessions are even longer. I had to get used to it when I came but, the fitter you are, you're going to get your rewards on a match day.
“I think the manager has got the best out of the players he had before January and then obviously he's added a few. Since then, we've picked up a lot of wins and when you're winning games it's a great feeling around the place. Everyone is full of confidence in training; you enjoy training even more.”
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