Terry Butcher has added his voice to growing calls for Gareth Southgate to be handed the England job on a full-time basis in the wake of Friday's 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley.
Butcher insists there is no need for FA chiefs to wait until after Tuesday night's friendly against Spain to appoint Southgate, who has held the job on a caretaker basis since the departure of Sam Allardyce in September.
Butcher, who won 77 caps for his country, told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "I think he's the right man - he's a personable guy and he wants to learn and adapt.
"I think there's a lot of going into the classroom for Gareth with England, he'll learn in the job and I think he'll learn well - he's got the capacity and the brain power.
"He'll certainly develop his own coaching prowess at international level - give him the job and give him it now."
Southgate has consistently expressed his desire to take on the role full-time and indicated he expects the process to begin after the game against Spain.
Despite obvious areas in need of improvement in the three games under his command, the former England Under-21 boss appears to have won over the players and the FA hierarchy.
And Butcher said the governing body could be putting the appointment at risk if they opted to wait for future potential candidates to emerge.
He added: "I read someone saying (they will) perhaps wait until Arsene Wenger makes a decision about his Arsenal future, but I can't see it being the case.
"It may be (in that eventuality) that Gareth walks away and says, you've had your chance, it's gone."
Source: PA
