Matt Targett has admitted that he now feels 'ready' to play for Newcastle United after previously deciding not to board a flight to join the Magpies four-and-a-half years ago.
Newcastle have signed Targett on loan until the end of the season after Eddie Howe made a late move for the Aston Villa left-back.
Although fellow new arrivals Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Chris Wood have, perhaps, received more coverage, Targett may prove an important addition.
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Targett was voted Aston Villa's players' player of the year back in May after working hard on improving his game and the 26-year-old was the only outfielder to have started every league game for the club last season.
Eddie Howe highlighted Targett's 'experience' and 'know-how' after the deal went through - the new arrival previously stayed up on the final day with Villa - and told the former England under-21 international he was 'looking forward' to working with him during a phone call on Sunday night.
Targett now feels he is in a better place to make an impact at St James' Park after previously coming close to joining the club on deadline day during Rafa Benitez's spell in charge in August, 2017.
"I was about to get on the plane to come up here when I was at Southampton," he told NUFC TV.
"Even at the time, then, I just don't think I was ready and now, having that experience with Villa and Southampton, I feel like I'm in a good place in my career and I'm really looking forward to helping Newcastle.
"For me, I think it was just establishing myself as a Premier League player. At the time, I was still young and it would have been a massive shock to come here. Now, I feel ready and I'm ready to help the team."
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