In the 1980s Johnston played in England for Middlesbrough and Liverpool and remains the only Australian to have scored in an FA Cup final, as Liverpool beat Everton 3-1 in 1986.
Shaun Custis in the Sun says McClaren has "one hand on the England job" while Brian Woolnough reports in the Star that the Middlesbrough manager "could be confirmed as new England coach as early as next Friday".
Heavy snow showers have already swept across parts of eastern England and Scotland, forcing the cancellation of Middlesbrough's premiership clash against Fulham on Teeside.
The Posh keeper was increasingly involved and although he stopped a strike from Julio Arca, the England Under-21 stopper could not prevent Kitson from slotting home the rebound as Middlesbrough took the lead just after the half-hour mark.