Hayles' Addicks aim | OneFootball

Hayles, who's hit double figures every season she's played in the division, will look to add to her 11 league goals when Newcastle United Women take on Charlton Athletic Women on Sunday (kick-off 12 noon).

United's number seven has netted two goals in her last three league appearances, and it's obvious to see the bond she's created with January arrival Emily Murphy.

"Every time I step out on the pitch, I'm confident of scoring and feel like I'll put any chance in the back of the net," Hayles told newcastleunited.com.

"I feel confident in front of goal, and having Emily Murphy in the team has been huge because I know she'll always try and play me the ball and find my runs.

"I know the golden boot race is tight, and one game and one goal can change everything, and hopefully for me, that happens this weekend."

Hayles has already hit one target for the season having reached double figures in the Women's Championship, but she's still striving for more.

In the reverse fixture against Charlton in October, Hayles netted her first professional hat-trick - but United had to settle for a 3-3 draw in that game after conceding twice in added time.

"It was nice to get my first professional hat-trick," Hayles recalled. "But it's a bittersweet feeling having left the game with just a point.

"It's always nice to score a hat-trick because I think I'd come close quite a few times, but it was nice to get my first one in professional football.

"Hitting double figures is always nice, and I've managed to do that every season I've played in the Championship, but it's now about taking that next step.

"It looks a lot better if you're scoring 14 or 15 goals a season instead of just 11 or 12, but hopefully, come this time next year, I'll be talking about beating my goal record for this season."

With just three games left to play this season, Hayles and her United team-mates have eyes on moving up the table, with the potential of a top three finish still in sight.

The two-time Women's Championship winner knows how tough this league can be from game to game, so for Newcastle to be pushing at the right end of the table in their first season at level is an encouraging sign.

"Finishing in the top three or four would be an amazing achievement for the club in our first season in the Championship because it's a difficult division," said Hayles.

"It would be a statement to other people that we're here and ready to compete. This is a club that deserves to be in the WSL (Women's Super League), and we have the aim of reaching that division.

"This season has been a learning curve, and we know that we should've done better in certain games, but we've taken lessons from those matches and learned from them."

The Lasses have tasted defeat just twice on the road in the league this season, having already played everyone above them away from home other than Charlton.

And Hayles said: "I think a lot of our good away form is down to the club. We have great facilities here, and we get to stay overnight the day before a game, which helps.

"We want to win every game, but there's that extra drive to win in front of another team's set of fans, although our fans make away matches seem like we're playing at home.

"Hopefully this weekend we have a fair few fans travelling down because they're by far the best supporters I've ever played in front of."