Newcastle and England were on Saturday frantically assessing the state of Kieron Dyer's knee injury, sustained in a wild tackle by Southampton's Tahar El Khalej in the 3-1 defeat at the St Mary's Stadium.

Dyer is due to jet out to England's World Cup training camp in Dubai on Monday - but there is now a major question mark hanging over his fitness.

The injury-prone midfielder was speeding down the right wing when El Khalej crudely halted his progress by kicking him across the knees.

Referee Andy D'Urso consulted his assistant and sent the Moroccan off, but of much greater concern to England fans is Dyer's injury. He had two minutes' treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken straight down the tunnel.

Alan Shearer and Bobby Robson were incensed by El Khalej's tackle, with the striker shoving his opponent and the boss becoming involved in an animated argument with Saints fans behind the bench.

Saturday was supposed to be all about Matt Le Tissier, who has now retired after his own injury nightmare.

The 33-year-old, dogged by a calf injury, was an unused Southampton substitute and will hang up his boots after Tuesday's testimonial against an ex-England XI.

But El Khalej's crazy challenge soured the match and left England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with another major injury worry, to add to his concerns over David Beckham and Nicky Butt.

In Saturday's match, in front of a record Southampton crowd of 31,975, Anders Svensson's toe poke opened the scoring in the 17th minute.

And five minutes later, Shay Given upended Brett Ormerod for James Beattie to convert from the penalty spot and give the Saints a 2-0 lead.

United's former Southampton striker Shearer bagged his 23rd league goal of the season with a poacher's strike in the 54th minute, but Paul Telfer's last-minute lob clinched a 3-1 victory.

England left-back Wayne Bridge had recovered from his calf problem to maintain his amazing run of appearances, which has seen him play in every Saints league game since March 2000.

Marian Pahars set up the first goal when he twisted Nolberto Solano inside-out on the left wing and poked a pass into the six-yard box.

Svensson, who will line up for Sweden against England in the World Cup, arrived at pace and stretched to slide the ball past United's Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given at his near post.

And if there was a question mark over Given's positioning for the first goal, he was definitely at fault for the penalty which led to Saints' second, just five minutes later.

Beattie clipped a pass into the area and Ormerod nudged the ball beyond the keeper - and away from danger - only for Given to send him flying. From the resulting spot-kick, Beattie fired into the bottom left corner to beat Given's dive.

United started the second period in a far more positive fashion, with Olivier Bernard testing Moss with a fierce strike from 25 yards.

Moss was unable to gather that shot first time - and he spilt the ball again in the 54th minute and was made to pay for his mistake. Laurent Robert hit a 20-yard volley, and as Moss palmed the ball away, Shearer reacted quickest and poked the ball home from three yards out.

And there was more drama two minutes later when El Khalej's crude tackle on Dyer earned the Saints centre-back a straight red card and left Dyer injured.

There could have been a second red card just minutes later, when James Beattie raced onto a through-ball and Nikolaos Dabizas kicked out at the Saints forward. However, ref D'Urso was more lenient on this occasion and the United player escaped with a booking.

Newcastle came close to drawing level late on through Olivier Bernard, who rifled a 20-yard drive just wide of Moss' goal.

But Southampton wrapped up victory in the last minute when Beattie's quick free-kick caught the Newcastle defence asleep and Paul Telfer lobbed Given from 25 yards.

Teams:

Southampton: Moss, Dodd, Lundekvam, El Khalej, Bridge, Telfer, Svensson (Fernandes 70), Delap, Pahars (Monk 60), Beattie, Ormerod (Tessem 62).

Subs Not Used: Bevan, Le Tissier.

Sent Off: El Khalej (57).

Goals: Svensson 17, Beattie 24 pen, Telfer 90.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Distin, Bernard, Solano, Dyer (Jenas 59), Speed, Robert, Shearer, LuaLua.

Subs Not Used: Kerr, O'Brien, Harper, Cort.

Booked: Dabizas.

Goals: Shearer 55.

Att: 31,973

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).