MARK Hughes today insisted livewire Craig Bellamy has a 'good chance' of lining-up for Wales in their crucial Euro 2004 qualifying clash with Italy on Saturday.

Wales chief Hughes revealed at a Press conference this morning that Bellamy's club Newcastle United had put down an iron fist and demanded the 24-year-old be checked-out by an independent specialist before linking up with Group Nine leaders Wales.

Bellamy has missed Newcastle's last three games to his troublesome right knee. But Hughes says the results from his assessment in Sheffield yesterday show that Bellamy, who arrived at Wales' Vale of Glamorgan HQ last night, is fit.

"Craig has got a very good chance of playing against Italy," said Hughes.

"The results from the scan and assessment were positive. The specialist and the player himself say that he is OK.

"My main concern is for Craig, and I would not risk him in Milan if he is not fit."

If Bellamy fails to prove his fitness to Welsh medical staff, Hughes will obviously be forced to shuffle his pack.

Hughes could switch Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Simon Davies to Bellamy's usual position on the right-hand-side of the five-man midfield and introduce West Brom's Jason Koumas into the centre. Or it could be a straight swap with Cardiff City pace ace Robert Earnshaw replacing Bellamy.

Hughes also conceded impressive centre-back Danny Gabbidon is not making such encouraging progress.

The Cardiff City defender, man-of-the-match in the defeat in Serbia and Montenegro last month, has been sidelined for ten days due to a foot injury

And Hughes said today: "Danny hasn't shown the sort of improvement we would have liked.

"He will have intense treatment and hopefully he will respond positively to that. He is a key player for us."