HASSAN KACHLOUL has been released from international duty with Morocco, clearing him to face Charlton at The Dell on Saturday.

It is a welcome boost for the Saints midfielder, who thought he would miss the game after being called up to face Tunisia in the African Nations Cup.

Morocco coach Umberto Coelho, who took charge of Portugal during Euro 2000, named a squad to cover Saturday's match in Tunis and the World Cup qualifier against Egypt on January 27.

He included Southampton duo Tahar El Khalej and Kachloul, who will both miss the FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

El Khalej is also out of the Charlton clash, but now Kachloul has been told he is not required for the first international and is free to play at The Dell.

That evens the score with the Addicks, who have had striker Shaun Bartlett released by South Africa.

Kachloul said: "The coach thought I would be suspended because of my misconduct charge and that I would not be mentally right so he did not include me in his plans for the first game.

"In any case, with two teams going through from the group, we should qualify for the finals of the African Nations Cup and the World Cup qualifier is far more important. He wants to save me for that.

"I have done well in the last three games for them and he wants to look at other players so he said there was no point me coming out.

"It means I am available for the match against Charlton so now I just hope I play because it is a big game."

If Kachloul does receive a three-match ban from the FA for an alleged attempted headbutt on Lee Bowyer, the ban may well coincide with the game against Egypt, minimising the loss to Saints.

He has still not been given a date for the hearing at the FA but he will deny the charge.