"Still having something to play for is huge" - Katie Barker aims for success in the County Cup with Newcastle United Women

At the beginning of April, the Lady Magpies were eliminated from the Women's FA Cup by Brighouse Town Women, leaving the County Cup as their only chance of silverware this season.

Striker Katie Barker shared her thoughts on the importance of cup competition on the back of the league cancellation, whilst outlining the targets she hopes to reach between now and the end of the season.

Barker scored four of her side's five goals on Sunday, continuing her scintillating form from before the season was halted.

"Scoring is my job as a striker," Barker explained. "If I'm not scoring, the team will suffer."

The number nine is certainly an important cog in Newcastle manager Becky Langley's machine, and was delighted to further add to her tally in the County Cup.

"I've scored a lot of goals in the County Cup this season and want to be top scorer," declared the Newcastle striker.

Having won the competition in the 2018/19 season, Newcastle United Women have the opportunity to retain the title this season, after it was cancelled last season due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The pressure of being the champions is something which, according to Barker, the squad is relishing.

"I wasn't here last time we won it, but we are definitely favourites," she said. "We put that pressure on ourselves and thrive off it, but we know other teams will work even harder to stop us from retaining it."

There is no doubt that women's football, particularly the divisions below the Women's Super League, has suffered due to the pandemic. Whilst in men's football the Premier League and EFL resumed after the latest lockdown, in women's football the divisions below the WSL were cancelled for a second consecutive season.

The only remaining competition for Newcastle United Women this season is the County Cup, and Barker reiterated how vital the Magpies' progression in the tournament is for the motivation of both the coaching staff and the squad.

"The County Cup is very important for us," she said. "Last year felt like a wasted year, but this season still having something to play for is huge. We can use it as a goal to work towards, and our preparation for games is built around it."

The Newcastle United Women coaching staff are continually looking to develop the players, and have carefully considered and organised several friendlies for Barker and her teammates between now and the end of the season.

"We know that the friendlies are planned against tough opposition and they are going to help us to grow as players," Barker added. "We are motivated to use these games to make sure we are in the best physical and mental state to be promoted next year."

Looking ahead, Barker outlined the targets she hopes to reach by the end of the season, both for herself and the team.

She said: "On a personal note, I want to be top goal scorer in the County Cup. For the team, we want to win the County Cup. We also want to make sure that we are competitive in all of our fixtures between now and the end of the season. We have some very difficult games coming up against tough opposition, such as Durham Cestria and Wolves, and we don't want to lose."

The Newcastle Women's squad are determined, and their desire to succeed and develop is epitomised by Barker. Whilst the County Cup is their primary motivation, the attitude of Becky Langley's squad towards friendlies is an extension of the brilliant work the Newcastle United Women's staff did with the squad during lockdown.

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC