Ditchburn, who previously managed Durham and Everton Women, has welcomed Peter Ramage onto the coaching staff over the past week and leaned on the former Toon player's experience.

United have been gearing up for one of their longest away trips of the season to newly-promoted Ipswich Town Women, who sit just two points and places behind Newcastle.

"We're really looking forward to it after a little bit of a lay off following the Man City game, but we wish we could've kept going," Ditchburn told newcastleunited.com. "The gap in games has meant we've been able to put in some good analysis and good work on the training pitch.

"The message has been that we continue to develop on the positives and build on what was a really pleasing performance against Man City. There's a feeling within the squad that we're not far off, because there have been some really good performances and progress.

"Rammy has had a great impact and come in and hit the ground running. He obviously knows the club inside out and has performed many roles.

"I've been leaning on him for experience, which has been invaluable, and with a fresh pair of eyes, he's made a great impact."

Newcastle saw seven players head off on international duty last week, but that didn't stop the hard work continuing at the club's new training base, Cochrane Park.

Like Newcastle were last season, Ipswich are newcomers to the WSL2 but have managed to spring a few positive results so far and sit one point above the relegation zone, with Ditchburn aware of how 'focused' United must be on Sunday.

"They remind me a lot of us from last season. They've come into the league and played with no fear and have taken the game to teams," she said.

"I think, as all games are in this league, it's a really good challenge, and we've got to remain fully focused for the entire game because Ipswich have shown they can get results.

"Everybody is looking forward to the game because it feels like it's been a long time since we had a match, so full focus has been on that during the international break."

It's a 578-mile round trip for Newcastle this weekend, but much like every away match, the Lasses are set to be backed by a raucous and passionate set of fans who'll look to be the 12th player at the JobServe Community Stadium.

"Their support is always unreal," Ditchburn added about the Newcastle fanbase. "They stick with us through thick and thin, and it's one of the things that players who join the club find unbelievable.

"The level of noise and support we get is quite unique to this club, so they're going to be massive on Sunday away to Ipswich.

"However they get there, we thank them for their effort because getting down there isn't easy when travelling from Newcastle."