Jordan Nobbs believes that the UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 could well prove vital in helping to further spread the game across the north of England.

The hosts will play their opening game of the tournament at Old Trafford, giving them the chance to break the attendance record for a UEFA or FIFA women’s international tournament.

The news that Manchester United’s iconic home will host the tournament’s curtain raiser was announced as UEFA marked 500 days to go until the action begins on July 7, 2021.

With a capacity of almost 75,000, the game could break the attendance record for a Women’s Euro fixture – 41,301 at the 2013 final in Sweden, as well as the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 final attendance of 57,900 at the Stade de Lyon.

And England midfielder Nobbs, who was raised in the North East and began her career at Sunderland before moving to Arsenal, expressed her approval at the use of Old Trafford, which is one of five northern grounds to host games in the tournament.

“I think that whenever we travel around it’s more exciting for us, said the 27-year-old.

“The chance for home-grown players from up north to get that support even though the women’s game isn’t as strong up there as it is down south.

“It’s just an incredible place for us to keep doing that and it gives a better opportunity for everyone to get to games.”

England Women Head Coach, and United legend, Phil Neville also praised the decision, saying: “It doesn’t get much bigger than managing your country at a home Euro and to have the opportunity to do so shows just how big our aspirations for UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 are.

“Old Trafford has a special place in my heart, but it is also one of the country’s most iconic football grounds, so today’s announcement is a significant one.”

England last hosted the tournament in 2005, with all matches taking place in the north-west and the final being played in front of 21,105 people at Blackburn’s Ewood Park.

This time, ten grounds across the country will host matches, with Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane, Leigh Sports Village, Manchester City’s Academy Stadium and the New York Stadium in Rotherham making up the northern contingent.

And Nobbs hopes that the use of these grounds at the tournament will help the development of the women’s game in areas of the country that perhaps haven’t yet gained representation on the pitch.

Only four of the 12 clubs in the Women’s Super League are from the north - both Manchester and Merseyside clubs, and Nobbs spoke about what can be done to improve the fortunes of sides from the North East and Yorkshire.

She said: “I wish there was more that we could do about representation of North East clubs in the league.

“We just keep hoping that the North East keeps supporting Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, to keep allowing opportunities for the women to play, because there’s plenty of talent that has come from there and we don’t want that to go away.”

England will host the UEFA Women’s EURO finals in July 2021. Fans will be able to see some of the world’s best players in action as 31 matches are played at venues across the country during the three and a half weeks of the tournament.