Newcastle United defender Matt Targett has underlined the importance of the "squad game" at St James' Park these days.
Targett got his first start of 2023 in the 4-1 win at Everton and has had to patiently wait for a chance under Eddie Howe after being a regular during the second half of last season. The former Aston Villa man put in a solid shift in the first 68 minutes as he continued his comeback from a heel injury at Goodison Park.
His selection saw Dan Burn, struggling with illness, step down to the bench but it could be a tight call for who starts against Southampton on Sunday.
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Speaking about squad rotation, Targett said: "It's massive and we've got to the stage in the season where we need everyone and if you look at the squad now, it's probably the best it's been it's just really Maxi (Allan Saint-Maximin) missing.
"It gives us so many options and when you see the manager make changes it strengthens us again. It's important that we've got a really good squad where everyone is playing their part."
Targett has endured a season of frustration personally for Newcastle but could end as part of a side that qualify for the Champions League. The popular defender has put those early season frustrations behind him and said: "It literally sums up my season where I've come out of the team due to illness and then the side went on an unbelievable run and that's how quickly things can change in football.
"I'm not stupid, I understand what's been going on and when I'm not playing I'm trying to support the team as much as possible and be the best team-mate I can be. But of course, I was really happy to get the start at Everton."
Targett admitted he felt the effects of playing more than an hour at Goodison. He reflected: "I definitely felt it in my lungs the first 10, 15 minutes because it was obviously a really difficult game and they're obviously fighting for their lives. It was a very physical test and we could have done better in the first half but second half it looked like they had run out of legs and our quality shone through.
"It was important we got the first goal because it had been a tight game until that point so it was key for us to go in 1-0 up at half-time. "
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