TAHAR EL KHALEJ could come face to face with Alan Shearer tonight, 72 hours after the two players were involved in a heated confrontation following the injury to Kieron Dyer.

Shearer will play for a star-studded England XI against a Saints team featuring the Moroccan, who was sent off following the horror tackle that looks to have ended Dyer's World Cup dream.

The Newcastle captain was furious with El Khalej, and pushed him away as the defender came across to console the stricken Dyer. "It was a bad challenge and out-of-order," he said.

Wayne Bridge, who flew to Dubai with the England squad, and Anders Svensson, in Stockholm with the Swedish squad, miss out, along with Claus Lundekvam and Paul Williams.

Strachan also confirmed that El Khalej "would be dealt with under normal club procedures" but would not be drawn about what action would be taken against him.

El Khalej is said to be dismayed by the incident and has sent a letter of apology to Dyer.

He is also planning to visit the Newcastle midfielder this week to apologise face to face.

El Khalej's agent, Alexander Ribero, said: "Tahar knows how important it is to play in the World Cup having been there three times with Morocco. He is very sorry if his tackle means that Kieron cannot go.

"Tahar insists that he was going for the ball and not for the player. He was not trying to upset him, but it was just part of the game."

And Ribero gave short shrift to the suggestion made by Dyer's agent Jonathan Barnett that he would look into the possibility of legal action should Dyer be ruled out of the World Cup.

Dyer's market value in terms of sponsorships and endorsements would've been considerably boosted by his being a part of a successful England squad in Korea and Japan.

Ribero added: "Whenever Tahar has played, for Southampton or Benfica or his national team, he has never gone out to injure anybody.

"He is very professional not used to all this. It was just a very unfortunate incident."

Barnett insisted early talk of possible legal action against El Khalej was too hasty. "He's leaving his options open but just wants to get fit."