Jordan Nobbs has said that winning promotion to the Women's Super League with Newcastle would represent "job done" for her career ambitions, fulfilling a long-held wish to see a north-east club competing in the top flight. The former England midfielder, who was born in Stockton-on-Tees, began her career at Sunderland before moving to Arsenal in 2011 after Sunderland's application to join the newly formed WSL was rejected, and she believes women's football in the region would benefit greatly from top-tier representation.

Newcastle finished sixth in WSL2 last season, nine points off the playoffs, but have strengthened significantly this summer with signings including striker Martha Thomas from Tottenham and the Liverpool pair Leanne Kiernan and Gemma Evans. Nobbs, who has 71 England caps, said the club must cut down on the nine draws they recorded last term and focus on winning matches, while also praising investment at rivals Sunderland, who were taken over by Bay Collective this year, as a sign the north-east's profile in women's football is growing.