Matt targeting Euro 2020

Playmaker writer John Townley runs a considered eye over the development of young Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett - whose stats suggest he deserves the chance to stake a claim for a place in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 squad. 

Gareth Southgate has a selection dilemma ahead of Euro 2020 - now that Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett is starting to out-perform many of his positional counterparts.

Having made the £14m switch from the south coast to the second city, Targett has now cemented his first-team place in Dean Smith’s Villa side, who have now started to get the best out of the former Southampton man.

Either side of a disappointing Christmas period, Villa conceded a total of six goals against Targett's former employers Southampton, as well as Watford, as they fell into the Premier League bottom three.

Villans boss Smith reacted by experimenting with a wing-back system and found instant success at Turf Moor, the Midlanders beating Burnley to record their first win on the road since victory against Norwich in October.

©Getty / Matthew Ashton - AMA

Attacking quality

With Targett higher up the pitch, Villa have benefitted from fresh impetus down the left flank with effective combination patterns with club talisman Jack Grealish forming a formidable partnership on the left wing.

Over 32% of Villa’s open-play chances this season have been supplied by either Targett or Grealish. In fact, Targett boasted the highest crossing accuracy (of 35.6%) in the Premier League at the end of January. 

Since reverting to a wing-back shape, Villa have scored nine goals in six Premier League games, harvesting four points during a period that has seen them score at least one goal in every game - and Targett has played a pivotal role in Villa’s attacking threat.

Targett has passed to Grealish more times than any other Villa player - his 135 passes are 90 more than second most Marvelous Nakamba. The full back’s influence on the relegation threatened side is profound, and his impact on Grealish understated.

Accuracy of players to attempt at least 30 crosses (excluding corners) in the Premier League:

🎯 Best - Matt Targett (35.6%)

❌ Worst - Richarlison (5.6%) pic.twitter.com/9Zvs04pwYe

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 27, 2020

Targett's big chance?

Targett has also created the 10th most 'Big Chances' in the league this season, the same amount as Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Raheem Sterling.

Since recording a draw at Brighton last month, no Villa player has had more shots in the box than Targett with the exception of Grealish’s eight. One of Targett’s four efforts found the back of the net as Villa set up their fifth Wembley appearance in seven years, beating Leicester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Ahead of the Euros this summer, Gareth Southgate will soon whittle his squad down to 23 men, with the left-back slot far less competitive than a right full-back berth that currently sees Trent Alexander-Arnold fending off Kieran Trippier, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kyle Walker. 

Leicester's Ben Chilwell has held down the role over the course of Euro 2020 qualification and throughout a Nations League campaign during which Danny Rose and Luke Shaw didn’t get a look in.

Only Chilwell and Targett have played regular first team football for the past few months..and Targett, who has represented England at every level up to Under-21s, may soon be knocking on the door for a senior international call-up. 

©Getty / Jose Breton

Serious numbers

The fact Targett has currently provided the most big chances, the most key passes, and the most expected assists of any English left back available to Southgate must not have escaped the attention of the Three Lions' boss. 

Even defensively, Targett also tops Southgate’s options in terms of both interceptions and tackles despite Villa’s leaky defence this season.

If Targett were to receive a call-up with the March friendlies looming, England could reap the rewards of selecting an attack-minded and proficient full-back to complement an already competitive squad.

This weekend, Targett will be able to show everyone at St Mary's just how far he has progressed since leaving Southampton - Villa taking on the 12th-placed Saints looking to extend the one point gap that currently separates them from the drop zone. 

Wembley here we come 🤩 #UTV #AVFC pic.twitter.com/mxpjqTWD7L

— Matt Targett (@Mattytargett) January 29, 2020