Haywood is a full-time footballer with Newcastle United Women, but she's previously turned her hand to punditry. The versatile attacker has appeared on Sky Sports' Women's Super League (WSL) coverage, as well as appearing on Wembley Way ahead of Women's Euro 2022.
While Haywood was rehabbing from an ACL injury at Aston Villa Women, she was eager to keep herself busy so jumped at the chance when asked to be on the screen.
"I'm not sure if you've noticed but I can talk a lot, especially about football," Haywood said.
"It came about when I was injured at Villa and we were playing West Ham in the WSL and Sky contacted our media team asking if anyone would do the punditry. They knew I could talk so put me forward.
"I ended up doing quite a bit of work with Sky during the Euros and while I've not done much of it recently, it's a great match as I can talk for days about football."
Having already played in front of a record Barclays Women's Championship crowd and scored a pressure penalty against AC Milan Women in the Sela Cup at St. James' Park this season, Haywood lets nothing faze her.
And United's number 18 was able to translate that ice-cold mentality into the media industry - although she believes a few nerves along the way are always a good thing.
"Before I went live for the first time I was quite nervous, but once the cameras start rolling it's just like you're having a chat about football and you almost forget the cameras are there," she explained.
"I've just got to remember to pronounce my Ts and my Hs because my mum doesn't like it when my Hull accent comes through too thick! As long as people can understand me I can't be doing too badly."
A lot of footballers are obsessed with constantly having a ball at their feet and just want to be out on the grass, and while that's Haywood’s bread and butter, she enjoys diving a bit deeper.
The former England youth international admitted she's always been academic, so it's no surprise that morning analysis is one of her favourite parts of coming into training.
"I really enjoy the tactical side of things, so when we have analysis in the mornings I love it," she admitted.
"It's almost like a chess match and looking to find the opponents' weaknesses, so working on that with professional athletes I think I'd really enjoy once I retire.
"I've always been fairly academic and always knew that I wanted to go to university."
Being academic and a star on the pitch, Haywood appeared to have the world at her feet when only a teenager, and she decided broadening her horizons was the necessary next step.
Back in 2014, Haywood was turning out for Notts County Women in the WSL as well as representing England youth sides, but once the opportunity to study and play football in America came about, she packed up her things and moved to the other side of the world.
"I was playing for Notts County Women when they had a team in the WSL and I was only 17 at the time when the first conversation was had around moving to America," she revealed.
"It came about out of nowhere. I was playing for England colleges and some scouts saw me playing and ended up offering me a full scholarship.
"At the time, my favourite film was Bend It Like Beckham, and at the end of it she goes off to America to play football, so it was something I'd always dreamt of doing.
"I was playing in the deep south, basically on the border of Alabama and Florida, for two years and then I lived just outside of Dallas, Texas for two years so it was a bit different to what I was used to.
"I was so skinny and probably what they would refer to as an underweight player at the time, but I think moving to America made me a better all-round athlete."
While the lure of playing in America in front of big crowds in huge college stadiums where women's football has been thriving for a long time was big, it wasn't all glitz and glamour for United's number 18.
Haywood admitted that while she got a degree and remained academic, her footballing career stalled and took some steps back upon her return to England.
"I always say that it's not something that I regret, but it depends on the way that you look at it," she reflected.
"If I was to live my life purely on the basis of hindsight, was it the best thing for my career? I'd probably say no, and that staying at home would've been better because I was already playing in the WSL and part of the England set-up.
"In terms of me as an athlete, a person and getting an education it was a great decision. I think my career stagnated a little bit because it took me a while to get back to the standard I used to be playing at, but I wouldn't swap any of my life experiences."
Haywood did achieve her goal of returning to the WSL with Aston Villa upon her arrival back home, but it came with some disheartening news.
Her desire was had been to play with Notts County once again, but unfortunately they'd folded and were no longer in the WSL which made things far more stressful for Haywood.
"The plan was always to come back and sign for Notts County because I was still only 22 upon returning but they were no more, which made me a little bit scared," she admitted.
"I knew Tanya Oxtoby who said she could get me a trial at Villa. So I landed home in May and was on trial through pre-season.
"I think it was for about three months, so I wasn't handed a contract until right before the season started. It was a little bit scary thinking it might not all come together, but thankfully it did.
"My first season with Villa was part-time, doing my Masters during the day and playing for the uni, which is where I met Becky (Langley). I was working at the same time and then played and trained for Villa on the evenings as well as weekends, so it was a tough time for me.
"I sort of gambled on getting a professional contract at the end of it, because I knew I could only live like that for one season as I was so burned out, but thankfully it paid off.
"Up until I got injured I was really enjoying my football and playing some of the best stuff in my career. I think my injury kicked off a three-year period where I really struggled mentally with football."
The confident, energetic and talkative Haywood that Newcastle fans are used to seeing week in and week out was not always visible, especially as she struggled with injuries - including her ACL.
Haywood admitted that following her move back home and signing for Sheffield United Women, she was not enjoying her football and could never have envisaged moving away again until Newcastle came calling.
"Being from Hull, I knew I could easily do the commute to Sheffield and I just wanted to be around my family and try to get back to my old self," she said. "I'd lost my love for the game and without that, I just couldn't play well.
"It was tough at Sheffield United, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Unfortunately, I was released from Villa still needing a second operation. So Sheffield United asked if I would play half of the season with my injury, which I understood.
"So the first half of the season I played with a torn meniscus and then from Christmas onwards, I was rehabbing.
"I'd spoken with my partner and had it in my head that I wouldn't move away again because I was ready to settle down. But when this opportunity came up - and the fact that Becky had previously got the best out of me and some of my best football was played under her - the pros ended up outweighing the cons.
"I don't play football for the money, but moving away from home has to make financial sense and getting back to playing full-time football was a huge thing for me, especially given the stage I'm at in my career.
"Both of my parents have sacrificed a lot of time and money to get me to where I am right now and I do lean heavily on my family and Jack, my partner.
"So when I look up and see them in the crowd, it makes me proud that I've never given up and remember why I do all of this is for them."
Newcastle United Women's next home game sees them return to St. James' Park to take on Southampton Women in the Women's Championship on Sunday, 17th November (kick-off 2pm BST). Tickets are on sale now from book.newcastleunited.com.
