Speculation over the 34-year-old's continued presence on Teesside has been mounting since his agent, Shep Messing, revealed in July he had turned down an offer from the club to extend his current deal.

Schwarzer, who is in the final year of his existing contract, has now expressed his intention to leave things until January, at which point he will also be free to talk to other clubs.

He said: "I have made it clear to (manager) Gareth Southgate that at the moment, I am happy to continue the way it is, and we have both agreed to put it off until the end of the year."