Burt: We want to show everybody what we are about

Becky Langley's side travel to Merseyside for the opening weekend of the FAWNL Division One North campaign, and Burt is eager to see the hard work of pre-season - where the Lady Magpies have competed with teams in the division above - come to fruition.

"I can't wait for the start of the new season," declared the summer arrival. "Of course, we want to win the game. We want to not only show ourselves but the league what we are about in this first game."

And Langley shared Burt's excitement for Sunday's curtain-raiser.

"It's fantastic that we're finally getting the season under way on Sunday against Merseyrail," said the boss. "They're a team that's newly promoted to our league and we want to be making sure that we start the season with some positive momentum, with a win away at Merseyrail and a win at home against Stockport (the following week).

"We are all fired up after a really tough pre-season. We've had to test our fitness levels, test our tactical understanding, and the repetition of defending more has been really good for the team. We are really excited to get going and we are just raring for it."

Burt is one of several new additions to Newcastle Women's ranks this summer, and the youngster recently received her first-ever call-up to the England Lionesses under-18s training camp.

"It's really nice to get an under-18s call-up," she said of her honour. "It shows that I've progressed through the age group, but now I've just got to try and make sure I stay in the (set-up)."

She is also aiming to cement her place in Langley's side this term, targeting league success as her primary goal.

"Personally, I'd love to be a regular in the team and help them get as high up the league as possible," she said. "As a collective, we want to win the league.

"The league is something that we are all striving towards every day and we're really, really hungry. We really want it, so we are going to make sure it's ours this year."

Burt could make her competitive debut away to Merseyrail, but she'll have to wait another week before turning out for the first time in front of Newcastle's home support, when the Lady Magpies face Stockport County Ladies at Kingston Park Stadium.

The clash will be Newcastle Women's second at the 10,200-capacity home of Newcastle Falcons, with the same venue hosting the Women's FA Cup fourth round tie against Ipswich Town Women last season.

Tickets for the game will be available on the gate, priced at £3 for adults and £1 juniors and concessions, and having the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd is something that Burt is relishing.

She said: "It excites me even thinking about it. To wear the black and white shirt is a true honour - especially as I've grown up as a little girl supporting this amazing club that has been a sleeping giant.

"Hopefully, it turns out to be a great day and we get the result we are after too."

Newcastle United Women season tickets, including all home league and cup games, are priced at £30 for adults and £15 for juniors and concessions, and are available to buy here (terms and conditions apply). 

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC