LONDON • David Moyes is being lined up for a swift return to work as the next Scotland manager after his resignation from relegated Sunderland last month.

The former Manchester United manager has been identified by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) as its preferred candidate to succeed Gordon Strachan, whose position will come under serious threat if his side are beaten by England in the World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park tomorrow.

Strachan has been under pressure throughout a disjointed qualifying campaign that began badly when Scotland drew at home to Lithuania in their first home fixture in October, with only a late Chris Martin winner against Slovenia in March giving him a stay of execution.

Defeat by England would leave Scotland nine points behind the Group F leaders and adrift of Slovakia and Slovenia in the race for the play-offs.

The 60-year-old may be allowed to see out the campaign or continue until it is mathematically certain that Scotland will not qualify for the World Cup, but the SFA has already begun discussing potential alternatives, with Moyes top of the list.

Moyes' stock is as low as it has been in his managerial career after failures at United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, and the SFA is hoping that he will relish the chance to rebuild his reputation at international level.

The 54-year-old is eager to return to work after leaving Sunderland and accepts that his next job will not be in the Premier League.

Moyes could be asked to take over for the rest of Scotland's qualifying campaign if the SFA fears that he will get offers from elsewhere.

Strachan's contract expires in October and an early termination would involve only a modest compensation payment.

THE TIMES, LONDON