Further talks with Garde for Newcastle United

Garde is the frontrunner to succeed Alan Pardew at St James’s Park.

The 48-year-old held informal discussions with managing director Lee Charnley in London over the weekend.

Newcastle, also linked with Tim Sherwood, have also sounded out a number of other candidates since Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr drew up a shortlist for the job.

And Garde – interested in re-starting his coaching career in England after a six-month sabbatical from the game – has NOT yet been offered the job.

A number of other potential candidates, including St Etienne’s Christophe Galtier, Derby County’s Steve McClaren and Ajax’s Frank de Boer, have publicly ruled out leaving their clubs midway through the campaign.

It is unclear whether Garde, having had a break from the game, is ready to start work straight away.

Caretaker manager John Carver, meanwhile, is likely to still be at the helm for Saturday’s home game against Southampton.

Carver, departed manager Alan Pardew’s No2, took charge for the third time on Saturday, when Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in front of club owner Mike Ashley.

The 49-year-old could even be put in interim charge until the end of the season, depending on the outcome of discussions with Garde and other candidates.

Garde is the odds-on favourite to take the job with bookmakers.

Former Tottenham Hotspur coach Sherwood, out of work since leaving White Hart Lane last summer, is the second-favourite.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Under-21s will take on Bolton Wanderers at Whitley Park tonight (7pm).

Jonas Gutierrez, back playing after being given the all-clear following treatment for testicular cancer, could be handed another run-out in the Under-21 Premier League fixture.