Charlton plug defensive hole by signing El-Khalej

Charlton Athletic have completed the signing of the former Southampton defender Tahar El-Khalej on a short-term contract.

The Moroccan international was released at the end of last week and the Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has signed him until the close of the season. The 34-year-old joined Southampton from Benfica for £350,000 in 2000 and made his last appearance for the Saints as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion in September. With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, El-Khalej became a free agent when the club paid him up in a bid to cut their wage bill.

He has been registered in time to play in Charlton's Premiership match against West Brom at the Hawthorns tonight. But Gary Rowett is not expected to be fit to return to the team. The defender, a £3.5m buy from Leicester in the summer, has been recovering from a knee operation and is now targeting a return at Sunderland on Saturday.

Chris Powell is likely to come back into defence after being rested for Sunday's 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Fulham, while there is a slight doubt over the match fitness of forward Kevin Lisbie.

New signing David Sommeil is in line for his Manchester City debut against Fulham at Maine Road. The French defender joined City from Bordeaux last week and has impressed manager Kevin Keegan sufficiently in training to ensure a place in his squad.

Peter Schmeichel and Eyal Berkovic both return after missing the Premiership defeat at Newcastle 10 days ago through injury, but Danny Tiatto (groin) is at least another week away from a return. The striker Matias Vuoso has been given permission to return to Argentina for a week to visit his ill father.

For Fulham, Steve Finnan returns at right-back after his one-game suspension and Louis Saha hopes to prove his fitness after missing Sunday's win over Charlton with a hamstring injury. However Edwin van der Sar, already out for five weeks after breaking the fourth metatarsal bone in his right foot, faces another month on the sidelines. Injury-plagued midfielder Lee Clark is still receiving treatment on a torn right calf.