England

Gareth Southgate unconcerned by England future

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 07 November 2016

Interim England manager Gareth Southgate insists that he is solely focused on his side's upcoming matches against Scotland and Spain.

Interim England boss Gareth Southgate has insisted that he is solely focused on his side's upcoming matches against Scotland and Spain, despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his position.

Southgate's four-game deal in temporary charge of the team will end following the Spain game, with the FA expected to name a permanent successor to Sam Allardyce before England's first match of 2017 in March.

Southgate is in the frame for the job, but he insists that he is looking no further than the next two games, beginning with Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

"What happens to me isn't important over the next 10 days, it's about us preparing to beat Scotland and about leaving the team and the country top of qualifying at the end of Friday night," he told reporters.

"That's my only focus. I've got two really exciting matches to take charge of the team and I'm really looking forward to doing that.

"What's important is I'm leading my country in an important and prestigious game and the focus is on preparing the team as well as possible."

Southgate is currently favourite for the job, followed by Roberto Mancini and Arsene Wenger.