Southgate ignores all the top job talk

INTERIM manager Gareth Southgate is more concerned about making England proud against Scotland than his own future.

Thrust into the hotseat following the ignominious end to Sam Allardyce's brief reign, the former defender's temporary four-match spell is soon coming to an end.

A glamour friendly at home to Spain next week closes out a stint in which Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland is comfortably the highlight.

It is reported Southgate will get the job permanently even if humbled by Gordon Strachan's men at Wembley, but talk about his long-term future continues to be on the backburner.

"I have really enjoyed it," he said. "It's a great honour.

EXCITING

"I've played for my country, I've got the chance to manage the best players in the country in an England-Scotland game on Friday night.

"Wow. For me, that's incredibly exciting.

"As a coach you want to work with good players . What's clear in my mind for this week is the areas you want to work with from last time.

"That should always be ongoing. That should always be our analysis. So, yes, I've enjoyed it and I intend to embrace this opportunity."

Southgate says it "would be wrong to be distracted by anything else", going as far to say his future is "not important" compared to keeping England at the top of the World Cup qualification group.

"What's important is that the team is top of the qualifying group going into Christmas and that the country is in a good place with that," he said.

"Then there is time for whatever process is going to happen to take place. For me, that is what is right for the organisation, going through the process talking to who they want to talk to.

"I have not discussed what happens next.

"I've got meetings in the diary about what happens next with all the age groups through to Christmas and January. I've not thought too much about that either.

"The period up to Christmas is a little quieter which gives people time to do the planning for next year."

Southgate, who called Aaron Cresswell and Jordan Pickford into his squad yesterday as replacements for Danny Drinkwater and Fraser Forster, remains the overriding favourite for a job that has its complexities but is not impossible.