McQuade sets sights on WSL with high-flying Magpies

Jasmine McQuade is convinced Newcastle have all the tools to make her Women's Super League dream a reality in years to come.

The midfielder, 21, has stepped up into the Magpies' first team in recent months to aid their push for the Women's National League Northern Premier title.

Currently nine points clear at the summit, Becky Langley's side are firmly on course for a second straight promotion, which would take them one step away from the top tier.

And former Lionesses youth international McQuade's ambitions have risen since arriving on Tyneside.

She told LiveScore: "I never really thought about the WSL when I was younger because it was just about getting your minutes and getting used to the change from youth football.

"But this is probably the first season, with the club's huge ambitions, where I've thought I actually could play at that level.

"You get to know girls from England camps as a youngster who are now playing all around the country and you see where they've got to. It makes you think it's possible.

"With the direction the club's going in, who's to say it won't happen?"

Stiff competition

Newcastle made the decision to turn their women's side fully professional last summer in a bid to fast-track a rise up the pyramid.

McQuade, who had previous third-tier experience with Middlesbrough, knew such an upwardly-mobile outfit was the perfect place to kick-start her career again after a spell away from the game.

She said: "When I played for Middlesbrough it was in the same league but then I took a year out of football to see if I could do university life.

"But I just missed playing too much. So when I came back, it was a case of I knew the level I could play at but I needed to build myself back up a bit.

"I got in touch with Becky at Newcastle and we agreed the best option would be their development squad — a place to build my confidence up and get some match fitness."

The youngster had to bide her time for first-team opportunities but now has five goals in her last five league outings, including some spectacular strikes.

Her impressive technique has been honed during hours spent on the training pitch.

She confessed: "The shooting is definitely something I've had to work on.

"It's to do with confidence, mainly. Previously I would always be looking to play a winger or striker in but since going full-time I have more time to practice my shots.

"I'm improving as a player all the time here at Newcastle."

Work to do

Burnley and Nottingham Forest also have title aspirations but Newcastle have so far proved too strong for the chasing pack.

Yet McQuade, who hopes to feature against Portsmouth at St James' Park today, insists her side are not getting carried away.

She said: "Everyone was speaking about the Burnley game earlier this month as being a big one.

"We got the result there but even then, the next weekend [a 2-1 win against Derby] ends up being a challenge, so you've got to just take it game by game.

"We know the league's not won until it's won, so we'll just take each one as it comes."