Gareth Southgate could be appointed England's next permanent manager even if they lose their next two games, according to FA chief executive Martin Glenn.
Southgate was placed in caretaker charge of the national team for four games last month following the departure of Sam Allardyce and his first two matches have yielded a win and a draw.
England now have two home games, a World Cup Qualifier against Scotland on November 11 followed by a friendly with Spain four days later, and even if both ended in defeat, Southgate would still be considered as Allardyce's long term successor.
Southgate is the front-runner with Sky Bet to be offered the post permanently but Glenn refused to be drawn on the matter.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don't know if he's favourite. I'm not going to comment on bookmakers' odsd.
"He's got the team for four games, up until the Spain game in mid-November. After that we don't have a game until March [against Germany], so we've got a bit of time to think.
"Gareth is a credible candidate, he knows the international set up, done great work with the U21s and wants to translate that across to the senior team.
"Even if he doesn't have a great next couple of games, he'll still be a good candidate. You don't judge a manager on one or two games."
Glenn also admitted that recent England teams have struggled to cope with the pressure of representing the nation in summer tournaments.
At the South Africa World Cup in 2010, they won just one of four matches and were knocked out at the last 16 stage, while they finished bottom of their group at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
This summer England won only one game at Euro 2016 as they suffered a humiliating exit at the last-16 stage to Iceland.
Glenn added: "England sides are technically better than we've ever been before. But the missing link is the fear factor.
"When you put the England shirt on, you don't often get the same performances for country as with club.
"We haven't done that with the senior men's team. It's something about team identity. Wales and Iceland did well (in the 2016 Euro Championship) because they were up for playing and we need someone who can create that.
"That's why the long term replacement being English is preferable."
Glenn believes one way to achieve this is for England's leading young players to experience the pressure of competing at U21 tournaments.
Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford, who has won five caps for the senior side, could play at next summer's Euro U21 Championship in Poland with Southgate insisting there would be no quick decision on whether the striker would be involved.
Glenn said: "England is in the tournament business. But compared to young Germans, they have less tournament experience.
"We desperately need to give our young talent experience of that pressure cooker of a tournament."