Jordan Nobbs sees progress as United end 2025 on a high | OneFootball

Nobbs was influential on and off the ball in Sunday's win 2-1 win at Portsmouth Women, a result which moved United level on points with third-placed Bristol City Women, but it was her opening goal that set the Lasses away on the right path.

Sunday's victory rounded off an enjoyable first half of the season as a Newcastle player for Nobbs after she swapped the Women's Super League for WSL2 and the famous black and white of United in the summer.

"I've loved it," Nobbs said with a wide smile when asked about her time with Newcastle so far. "Every day I can feel the ambitions of the club, and as a player, that's what I want.

"I want to be part of a team that is going out there to win, and I think the last few games we've really pushed on as a team.

"Since Tanya (Oxtoby) has come in, I think you can really see what we're trying to do as a team. Straight away, we understood her philosophy and knew exactly what she wanted us to do, and you can see that on the pitch."

After a positive start to the game against Pompey in the first half, which United dominated, the Lasses found themselves pegged back and were forced to adapt quickly.

With that new philosophy from Oxtoby, United showed a determined side to their game and demonstrated once more their progression under the new manager.

"I think the first half was really good from us, and we probably should have scored a few more goals," said Nobbs. "I want to be getting on the scoresheet and getting more assists to help the team win games.

"In the second half, though, they were hitting a lot of long balls, which are harder to defend when you're trying to press them from the front.

"We had to quickly react to that and deal with it, and I thought our character staying in the game and then going on and winning it was a big positive."

On Sunday, Nobbs was often the player triggering the United press from the front, and with the game edging closer to 90 minutes, Newcastle's number four was the most advanced player when they retook the lead through an own goal.

A former England Lioness and three-time WSL winner, Nobbs' experience has been crucial to United steadying the ship after a shaky start to the season.

"Unfortunately, that will always be part of my game," Nobbs laughed when talking about how much she talks to her teammates and organises them off the ball.

"I've been like that since I was a little kid, and it's something that I got taught a lot when I was in the England youth age groups.

"Some of the girls probably don't listen to some of it, but I just want to try and help as much as possible.

"That's just a part of me and my game, and hopefully the girls don't mind as we're all working towards the same goal."