Northampton Saints coach Jim Mallinder has given the biggest indication yet that he would like to succeed Martin Johnson as England manager.

Mallinder has been named by a number of pundits as the perfect candidate to take over from Johnson, but earlier today insisted that he was concentrating on his side's match against Scarlets.

Speaking after their 28-23 loss at Franklin's Gardens, Mallinder described the prospect of managing his country as a "massive honour".

"I said a few weeks ago everybody strives to be the best they can and coaching the national side is a massive honour," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"At this moment my mind is on Northampton Saints. No-one [from the Rugby Football Union] has come and said anything to me so I'm concentrating on doing the best job I can here."

Mallinder earned two England caps during his playing career.