Boro were given permission to employ Southgate as their manager for three months in August, however that expired on Sunday.

Discussions between the club, league officials and the Football Association have been ongoing ever since the former England defender was appointed as Steve McClaren’s successor in June.

Southgate, 36, is studying for his B Licence and hopes to begin his A Licence in January before enrolling on the Pro Licence course during the summer.

The Premier League amended their rules earlier this month to allow a manager who is in the process of gaining the Pro Licence to be in charge of a top-flight club, a change which brings it into line with the top European leagues.

Boro have remained confident throughout that there is a solution to the problem, and believe they have put persuasive arguments to those who will make the decision.

Southgate has simply got on with his job, with the matter out of his hands.

“That is how I have been since I got the job, really,” he said. “I am just concentrating on that and everybody else is taking care of the other side of things.”

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium left Boro sitting 14th in the Barclays Premiership table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southgate’s former club Aston Villa.

The rookie boss has endured a mixed start to his career but insists he is learning all the time, with Boro having taken four points from the last two games, against West Ham and Liverpool.