Gordon Strachan is expected to replace Gareth Southgate as manager of Middlesbrough and could be appointed as early as Thursday, reports The Times. Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough chairman, has indicated that the club is in a position to move quickly and the former Celtic manager could be in charge for the match away to Preston North End on Saturday.

"We already had a strategy for Gareth's replacement," said Gibson. "The timing of Gareth's sacking was determined a little by the implementation of that strategy."

Strachan, who has been out of work since leaving Celtic Park at the end of last season, has been a regular attender of matches at the Riverside Stadium and is understood to be ready to return to football.

Bookmakers are offering odds of only 1-5 on Strachan's appointment, with it becoming clear that Gibson was intent on making a swift appointment.