Aidy Boothroyd is set to be confirmed as head coach of England’s under-21s on a permanent basis in succession to Gareth Southgate and is expected to lead the junior side into the European Championship in Poland at the end of the season.

The Football Association had asked Boothroyd to step up from the under-20s during Southgate’s interim spell in charge of the senior side, and he duly oversaw the team’s qualification for the tournament to be staged next summer.

The governing body confirmed last week that it would be conducting a formal interview process for the position, but the role has effectively been earmarked for the former Watford manager, whose last job in club football was at Northampton Town whom he left bottom of League Two three years ago.

The 45-year-old was in Poland last week, when England were drawn in a group against the hosts, Slovakia and Sweden – who they play in their opening fixture on 16 June – in the 12-team finals. Southgate, who has been confirmed as senior manager on a four-year contract, has suggested the likes of Marcus Rashford could yet be involved at the two-week tournament.

“The summer is a good opportunity for a group of players who have worked incredibly hard to get to those finals to build on what they did in Toulon last summer,” he said. “Marcus would benefit from tournament football, but I’m conscious of his age and workload over the season. So we will assess it and work out what is best for him.”

Boothroyd, who had coached the under-20s since 2014, oversaw qualifying victories against Kazakhstan and Bosnia, and a win against Italy and defeat against France in friendlies, in his period in interim charge in Southgate’s place.

He has worked closely with the FA’s technical director, Dan Ashworth, over his career, from Peterborough United to West Bromwich Albion and now at the governing body, and could yet be assisted in his new role by a more high-profile former England player. The likes of Phil Neville and Steven Gerrard, recently retired after a stint at Los Angeles Galaxy, have been mooted as possibilities.