Bain will need to be patient to land Monk

is not set to be short of offers this summer, with Middlesbrough having reportedly already held discussions with Monk since his Leeds exit.

But Sunderland, who have begun tentative talks with a number of candidates on their shortlist in recent days, are keen to start negotiations with Monk, who heads up a shortlist which has been whittled down by Bain in recent days.

The Echo has learned that Monk is open to an offer from the club.

With time on his side, though, the 38-year-old will not rush back into management just for the sake of it, and could wait to see how a number of Premier League positions play out before deciding on his future.

Monk has been linked with the Crystal Palace post, vacated by Sam Allardyce, recently, as has Burnley boss Sean Dyche. If the latter gets the Palace job, it would free up another top flight post and Monk would be seen as a prime candidate.

Sunderland need to make an appointment quickly, however, as they prepare for life outside the top flight for the first time in a decade. The players report back for pre-season training on June 29, while the new manager needs to rebuild a squad that could lose around a dozen players who are either out of contract or return to their parent clubs after the end of their loan spells.

Derek McInnes remains the bookmakers favourite for the top job at the Stadium of Light, with Preston’s Simon Grayson also heavily backed by punters.

Nigel Pearson is another name said to be in the frame, although he has been heavily linked with replacing former Black Cats midfielder Steve Agnew at Boro.

Another name linked to the job yesterday was Championship veteran Billy Davies.

The Scot led Derby to the top flight in 2007, and secured four more top-six finishes between 2005 and 2011.

Sources in Scotland say Davies has been sounded out by the Black Cats, though we understand he isn’t currently being considered for the position.

Spurs full-back Kyle Walker is determined to silence Hampden Park as England look to take another step towards the World Cup finals on Saturday.

Gareth Southgate’s men are on course to reach Russia, and aim to make it a double against Scotland, following November’s 3-0 victory at Wembley.

Walker played a part at Wembley, so too the 3-2 friendly win in 2013, and hopes to be on the winning side against Scotland once more this weekend.

“If you don’t like these games then you might as well not be in football,” Walker said.

“You know, it’s a local derby. I’ve played in two before and the atmosphere at Wembley was terrific.

“I think it’s going to be just as good up there and we need to go and silence the crowd and hopefully get the three points.

“I think it’s going to be right up there, but it’s something that we need to adapt to.

“We need to take control of (it) and play our game and trust in the players that we’ve got and, like I said before, try and silence the crowd.”

England will have to do without Jamie Vardy after he picked up a minor injury in training. The Leicester City striker is the second player to withdraw, after Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne pulled out with a back injury.

Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford are competing for striking spots against Scotland and France, in Tuesday’s friendly.