How Matt Targett proved everyone wrong and why that means West Ham should sign him

West Ham United-linked Matt Targett breathed new life into his previously stagnating career in 2025-26.

The 30-year-old was entering a watershed season in his career, and he knew it.

Contracted to Newcastle United, the left-back was a squad player who rarely saw action for the Magpies.

Luckily for him, local Championship outfit Middlesbrough came calling, and signed him to a season-long loan deal.

News of his arrival was met with mixed emotions among Boro fans, with some banking on his experience and Premier League pedigree, whilst others were sceptical over his age and lack of playing time recently.

However, when it came down to speaking to Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on why he wanted to leave Tyneside, there was one clear thing in Targett's mind that he was desperate to prove to everyone, but mainly himself.

How Matt Targett lived up to his promise at Middlesbrough

The 2024-25 season saw Targett make just five competitive appearances for Newcastle in all competitions, culminating in a mere 20 minutes of Premier League football.

Knowing that if he was going to have the best chance of playing at a high level in English football during the twilight years of his career, the defender needed to prove a point.

Speaking to Sky Sports News via the Hartlepool Mail in April, Targett pleaded with Howe to let him leave Newcastle so that he could show his ability to stay fit for a full season.

“It was really important to me that I could come here (Middlesbrough) and prove I can play a full season with no injuries," he said.

"I had a chat with Eddie Howe in January and he was so understanding about my situation, so I thank him for that. He knew it was beneficial for me, that I wanted to keep playing.”

Proving he could stay fit was exactly what Targett did, as he played 42 of Middlesbrough's 46 Championship games, starting 39 of them and playing over 3,300 minutes of league football.

Indeed, he missed just one league game through injury all season, and there was even significant talk of him being recalled by Newcastle during the first half of the campaign due to the Magpies' injury crisis.

Targett scored four goals and provided an additional four assists, and was one of the very best in his position in the Championship last season.

But other than getting more regular game time under his belt, why was Targett's quest to prove his ability to stay free of injury so important to him in the context of his career?

Targett's injury record was his big transfer red flag

Football League World have claimed that West Ham, alongside fellow Championship rivals Norwich, are both keen on signing Targett as a free agent this summer.

So, if the Hammers are to pursue a deal for him, then they will of course want to feel as confident as possible that his injury issues are behind him.

There's good reason for that too, as the former Southampton, Fulham and Aston Villa star has a long and alarming record of injury problems.

As detailed via Transfermarkt, Targett has missed 122 games and 753 days through injury in his career.

Targett has dealt with Achilles and hamstring tears in recent years whilst at Newcastle which forced him to miss over a year between 2023-2024.

Hamstring problems have been present throughout his career, but he's also suffered from a range of other muscle issues as well as knee and ankle injuries.

The full-back also had to miss time at Newcastle due to a nasty ezcema flare-up, and that forced him to miss training and matches due to medication he took containing ingredients that are restricted by anti-doping laws.

But, the 46 games in all competitions he's just played for Middlesbrough last season are the most he's made in a single season in his entire career.

Not only does that speak to the level of injury issues he's had, but it also should put to bed any major concerns over his ability to stay fit should he sign for West Ham this summer.