Southgate yesterday went through the formal procedure of being interviewed for the job of Three Lions boss.
But nobody else will be spoken to, with the FA’s main concern being who will replace Southgate as Under-21 boss, with Aidy Boothroyd currently standing in.
There is also uncertainty over who will be in the 42-year-old’s backroom team, with Steve Holland of Chelsea and Sammy Lee assisting him during his four-game trial, which ended with the 2-2 friendly draw with Spain at Wembley a week ago.
But when he is formally confirmed Southgate knows he faces the toughest of introductions as full-time boss with England’s next game being a friendly with Germany in Dortmund on Wednesday March 22 - following a full Premier League programme, including Manchester City v Liverpool.
It will come 127 days after the Spain encounter and Southgate, keeping to the script that he has yet to be appointed, said: “Whoever it is will have just two days to prepare for the game after not seeing them for four months. So good luck with that whoever is next!”
Southgate's three-hour interview at St George’s Park was in front of FA chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn and technical director Dan Ashworth.
The panel also included League Managers’ Association chairman Howard Wilkinson and former England defender Graeme Le Saux.
Meanwhile, the FA have taken a relaxed view about Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson - who has been skipper in the absence of Wayne Rooney - and Adam Lallana visiting a strip club in Bournemouth the night after beating Scotland.
Neither player will be disciplined about the visit, which broke no FA rules.
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