MIDFIELD pivot Robbie Savage, pictured, is facing a race against time to be fit for Wales' crunch Euro 2004 qualifier with Ser-bia/Montenegro next month.

The Birmingham City battler hobbled out of his side's pre-season 4-0 friendly victory against Burton Albion on Saturday with a calf strain.

However, Savage (pictured) flew out with the Blues' squad yesterday to compete in the Premier League Malaysia Cup.

Medical experts are assessing the damage but manager Steve Bruce is optimistic as Savage has no history of calf problems.

Bruce will have an answer to his fears within the next day or so.

Welsh manager Mark Hughes has been put on red alert as his men take on Serbia in Belgrade on August 20 - four days after the Premiership season opens - in a Group Nine showdown.

Hughes and Bruce are now sweating on the prognosis of Savage's injury as the 28-year-old is a crucial cog in their side's wheel.

Hughes, whose men lead group nine by two points from Italy, also fears that 29-times capped Savage will be out of Wales' winner-takes-all trip to Milan's San Siro Stadium on September 6 for the Azzurri clash.

Meanwhile, Newport County striker Mark Dickeson will be sidelined for three weeks due to a thigh strain.

The big 28-year-old targetman took a bang and limped off the field in Friday night's 8-1 pre-season success at Newport YMCA.

The Welsh semi-pro international was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital for X-rays as a precaution but damage was not serious.

However, Dickeson's thigh is extremely swollen and he's also suffering from a dead leg.

The former Llanelli front runner has suffered bad luck with injury since joining County last summer. He spent seven months of last season's Dr Martens League campaign in the Spytty Park treatment room after damage cruciate knee ligaments following an awkward fall in their September game with Chippenham Town.