By Graham Hill
FORMER Premier League striker Noel Whelan says it is ‘strange’ that Matt Targett has yet to play for Villa in the Premier League.
Targett was one of a string of summer signings brought to Villa and the 23-year-old made it clear he was not coming to play second fiddle after failing to hold down a regular place at Southampton
Villa played £11million for the England Under-21 defender, but so far it is Neil Taylor who has been given the nod at left-back.
Pundit Whelan – who played for Coventry City, Middlesbrough and Leeds – told the Football Insider site that he is puzzled about that.
And he says Targett should make his full Villa debut against Everton on Friday night.
He said: “It’s really strange.
“Targett has really good Premier League experience and been signed to strengthen a position that needed strengthening.
“Who not play him straight him away?
“I would definitely play him against Everton. The kid is fit and that’s why they spent all that money on him. Put him in.”
Smith has also kept Ahmed Elmohamady in at right-back despite the arrival of French defender Freddie Guilbert who signed last January but was loaned back to his previous side Caen before coming to Villa this summer.
