The Magpies manager handed debuts to youngsters Abbie Richardson and Casi Gregson at Aston Villa Women, highlighting the hard work they've both been putting in.

United make the short trip to Maiden Castle this Sunday to face Durham Women (kick-off 12pm BST), and Oxtoby is keen on finishing this first block of games strongly before an international break.

Here are some of her thoughts ahead of Sunday's game...

On the loss to Aston Villa…

"We've said all along everyone in our squad has got the ability to play, and they're probably disappointed they haven't had more minutes, so it was a nice opportunity for them to show what they can do.

"Against a WSL side we had to think quickly, we had to have better decision-making with and without the ball, so it was a really good test for us, and I thought there were some really good performances."

On debutants Abbie Richardson and Casi Gregson…

"It's great to see the academy kids coming through, and they've earned that opportunity. They were with us for pre-season and did really well.

"To see the smile on their faces is such a positive thing, and it's why you do what you do sometimes.

"You have to earn it. It's a big club, and I think the history of this club deserves people who put in the work, and every single player that pulls on the shirt here does that every single day. That's why they're a part of this team."

On Durham…

"We have to play what's in front of us. From our perspective, we don't move away from who we are and what we want to do. We'll have to play the conditions and make sure we do everything we can to put in a positive performance.

"We've got our style and what we are going after, and they're our non-negotiables from our perspective.

"Every game is horses for courses, if you like, in terms of making sure that you're thinking about the opposition and how you're going to stop them exploiting you, and how you're going to exploit them, and Sunday will be no different."

On finishing this block strongly…

"We want to finish the block in the way we started it.

"We want to make sure that we don't let ourselves down now and that we continue to push and keep our standards high and finish the block on a high."