KIERON DYER could be handed the attacking role he craves as Newcastle United look to confirm their place in the lucrative Champions League group phase against Partizan Belgrade at St. James' Park tomorrow night.

Craig Bellamy's continued absence with a worrying recurrence of knee trouble has left the Magpies without a pacey foil for the in-form Alan Shearer.

Bellamy missed Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Manchester United and it is feared he may be forced to return to the United States for a further consultation with leading specialist Richard Steadman, who carried out an operation on the Welsh international for tendinitis in May last year.

Shola Ameobi partnered Shearer at the weekend, but although the Magpies' skipper scored his third goal in two games, there was a lack of penetration in their forward play without the fleet-footed Bellamy.

Newcastle's main weaknesses against the champions were in defence and midfield, where Dyer exerted little influence after taking a kick on his Achilles.

The 24-year-old playmaker operated up front when he appeared as a substitute for England in last week's friendly victory over Croatia in which he was unlucky to see a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for offside.

Afterwards, Dyer revealed that England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who saw him in action again on Saturday, had said he could have a future in the international set-up as a frontline stand-in for Michael Owen.

Now, if Dyer is declared fit as expected for the second-leg qualifier against Partizan - Newcastle lead 1-0 from the first meeting two weeks ago - Sir Bobby Robson may ask him to reprise the support role he performed so well for Shearer in last season's Champions League defeat by Juventus in Turin.

Manager Robson has a ready-made replacement for Dyer in midfield, with Jermaine Jenas pushing to be restored to the starting line-up after being restricted to substitute appearances in each of the Magpies' games this season.

Shearer and Ameobi weren't helped against Man.

United by largely ineffectual flank play from Laurent Robert and Lee Bowyer.

Robert, who sulkily headed straight down the tunnel after being substituted, finds his place under threat from Hugo Viana, while Bowyer's European ban means Nolberto Solano will return on the right against Partizan.

In defence, Jonathan Woodgate hopes to return from a stomach problem to take the place of Titus Bramble at centre-back.

Meanwhile, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the club's Benton training ground to rally his players ahead of the Partizan clash - and assure Shearer that he will end his career on Tyneside.

Weekend reports suggested Liverpool had been alerted to the fact that the former England captain, whose contract runs out at the end of this season, has yet to have talks with Newcastle about a one-year extension. But Newcastle are understood to have drawn up a new £2m-plus deal for 33-year-old Shearer, who has indicated he will retire at the end of next season.

* Sir Alex Ferguson will not find out until tonight at the earliest whether he is to be charged by the Football Association.

The Manchester United manager seems almost certain to face disciplinary action following his four-letter tirade at fourth official Jeff Winter during Saturday's 2-1 win at Newcastle. However, because of the Bank Holiday, the FA will not read referee Uriah Rennie's report until later today.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.