Silva's leg amputated: Former Uruguay striker Dario Silva has had his lower right leg amputated following a car crash, his mother confirmed in a radio interview yesterday. Silva suffered an exposed fracture of the leg after the accident on Montevideo's main seafront avenue on Sunday, when his pick-up truck collided with a lamp-post.

"The doctor has spoken to us and told us that they had to amputate the leg because it was a threat to his life," said Doris Pereira. Silva is in an induced coma in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Montevideo.

Silva played for English premier league Portsmouth last year and was out of contract. The 33-year-old striker began his career with local side Defensor Sporting and then joined more fashionable Penarol.

He moved to Europe in 1995 to play for Italy's Cagliari and has since played for Espanyol, Malaga and Sevilla in Spain as well as Portsmouth.

Silva made 49 appearances for Uruguay between 1995 and 2005, scoring 14 goals, and played at the 2002 World Cup when Uruguay were knocked out in the first round.

His last international appearance was in the World Cup qualifying play-off at home to Australia last year.

Ireland to face Scotland

Ireland will play its first 'B' international in more than seven years in November when Scotland travel to Dublin to play at Dalymount Park on November 14th, the night before the Republic's first team takes on San Marino in a European Championship qualifier at Lansdowne Road, writes Emmet Malone.

Announcing details of the game yesterday Ireland manager Steve Staunton said it would give him a chance to look at "lads who are out of the under-21s but not in the senior squad yet. There'll be 18 at least," he said, "plus a few who'll go over from the senior squad for the game the day after."

It will be the first game staged here at this level since a B team played a League of Ireland team at the Carlisle Grounds in 1999 and the first involving international opposition since the Northern Ireland came to Dublin for a game at Tolka Park a year earlier.

"We have an agreement to play the Scots over there within two years and we're actively looking for other games next year," said Staunton.

An invitation to take part in a tournament in Portugal has apparently been turned down because it was scheduled to take place during a week when there is a full programme of games in England and Staunton said that securing the release of players would have caused "serious problems" with club managers.

Staunton said yesterday that he would pick the squad but manager Pat Devlin would take them for the game.

Terry expected to play

Chelsea's John Terry is expected to face Levski Sofia in the Champions League tomorrow after making encouraging progress from the back injury that forced him to miss Saturday's win over Fulham, writes Jon Brodkin.

Terry trained yesterday and flew with the Chelsea squad to Bulgaria but Jose Mourinho will assess whether his captain suffers any reaction before making a decision.

The England captain suffered muscle spasms in his back during training on Friday, the problem worsened overnight and he was forced to miss the match at Craven Cottage. He walked awkwardly around the side of the pitch before the game but he has been treated by an osteopath over the weekend.

Paulo Ferreira filled in at centre-back in Saturday's 2-0 win because Khalid Boulahrouz had an eye infection, but the Dutchman is ready to play in central defence if required.

Coleman may be charged

Fulham manager Chris Coleman may have to answer a Football Association charge for his outburst against the referee Mark Halsey after an inquiry was launched at Soho Square yesterday, writes Alan Biggs. The Fulham manager is likely to receive a letter asking him to explain his tirade following Saturday's home defeat to Chelsea.

Coleman called for Halsey to be removed from future Fulham matches because of his involvement in previous controversies at Craven Cottage and implied the referee was biased towards bigger clubs such as Chelsea.

The manager's comments were rooted in history. Halsey's coercion by Arsenal players into changing his mind about awarding Fulham a penalty two years ago resurfaced on Saturday when he denied penalty claims from the home side but gave one to Chelsea in their 2-0 win.

Spackman leaves Millwall

Millwall have announced manager Nigel Spackman has left the club by mutual consent. The Lions are currently second from bottom in League One following relegation from the Championship last season.

They lost at home to Northampton at the weekend, and chairman Stewart Till told his club's website millwallfc.co.uk: "This has been a very difficult decision for both parties. We firmly believed that Nigel was the manager to take us back to the Championship.

"His qualities as a man and his vision for Millwall's future were impeccable, but unfortunately circumstances have dictated that things have not worked out as either he or we anticipated in the first 10 games of the season." Willie Donachie, Spackman's assistant, will assume managerial duties temporarily.

Saviola left out

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has left Argentine striker Javier Saviola out of the squad to face Werder Bremen away in the Champions League tomorrow.

Saviola had earned his first call-up to the Barca squad this season for the visit of Valencia on Sunday, but despite playing the last few minutes of the 1-1 draw, dropped out of contention again yesterday. "Rijkaard always tells me things face to face, whether it is good or bad. He knows what I can do," Saviola told a news conference.

Brazilians Thiago Motta and Silvinho and French defender Lilian Thuram return after being rested for Sunday's game. The European and Spanish champions top Champions League Group A after their 5-0 win over Levksi Sofia two weeks ago. They also lead the Primera Liga on goal difference.

Talks on Beckham deal

Real Madrid revealed earlier yesterday that talks had begun with David Beckham over a contract extension. Beckham's current deal ends next summer and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic told TVE television show El Rondo: "The renewal of Beckham's contract is the decision of the club, he is very keen to stay here.

"The number of years for which his contract will be renewed is what we must first talk about with his representative. We are all delighted with Beckham and he wants to stay, those are the two fundamental things."