Upton sparks? Bowyer and Dyer could be reunited

Curbishley, who discovered yesterday that £6.1million France international Faubert is out until Christmas at least with a ruptured achilles tendon, is preparing to test Newcastle's determination to hang on to England midfielder Dyer with a £5m bid.

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Dyer, 28, has endured an injury troubled time at St James' Park and new boss Sam Allardyce may be ready to off-load him as he looks to re-build his squad.

That would mean teaming up with controversial Bowyer who was involved in an on-pitch brawl with Dyer during a home defeat with Aston Villa two years ago which resulted in both players being sent off.

Dyer, who has also attracted interest from Tottenham, may be ready for a fresh challenge after eight years on Tyneside and a move to Upton Park would also reunite him with another former Newcastle 'bad boy', the Wales captain Craig Bellamy, who joined the Hammers for £7.75m. Toon's excaptain Scott Parker is already there, too, following a £5.5m move.

Bowyer and Dyer resolved to put their fight behind them immediately after the incident. Then manager Graeme Souness forced the pair to appear at a press conference and fined Bowyer six weeks wages.

He was also charged with public order offences and fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs after admitting using threatening behaviour towards his team-mate.

Dyer, meanwhile, escaped a club fine and any court action.

Former Ipswich midfielder Dyer is now one of the top earners at St James' Park but if any club can match his £100,000-a-week it is the Hammers, who have been trying to recruit big-earners throughout the close season but missed out on Mark Viduka who decided to join Newcastle on a free transfer.

News of Faubert's injury is another blow for Curbishley, who watched new signings Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson suffer injuries in January within days of joining the club to help last season's relegation fight.

Faubert, 23, was hurt in West Ham's 1-0 defeat against Czechs Sigma Olomouc in Austria three days ago and returned to France for surgery.

Curbishley said: "It's a devastating blow for everyone, especially Julien. He'd fitted in so well and was showing all the attributes needed to be a success in the Premier League.

"You could see in the short bit of football he has played with us that he was going to be a big hit with the supporters — he is strong, fast, gets up and down and understands the game — so to lose him after an hour of football and just two weeks at the club is a big disappointment.

"We wish Julien a speedy recovery and, having got to know the boy over the past week or so, I am certain that he will respond to this set-back in the right way.

"Hopefully we will see him back in action around Christmas time, but the main thing is that he follows his rehabilitation programme and only returns when he is 100 per cent ready."

Earlier this week France coach Raymond Domenech branded Faubert "unspeakably stupid" for joining West Ham from Bordeaux and hinted that he had put his international career in jeopardy after picking up just one France cap.

"It is a great pity when you are on the brink of the French national team," he said. "I struggle to understand why he has done it."