WELSH wonder Ryan Giggs is plotting a season to remember.

The Manchester United golden boy is aiming for a record-breaking ninth top-flight championship title as well as helping his beloved Wales to the Euro 2004 finals.

The 29-year-old trickster began a hectic schedule with both club and country on a high note as the Premiership Champions nudged FA Cup holders Arsenal aside to lift the Community Shield yesterday - and, in turn, end their Millennium Stad-ium hoodoo. Now Giggs is focused on success on both fronts.

"It would be nice to be out on my own and break the record for winning top-flight championships," said the Cardiff-born left-winger.

"But that is not something that I will think about now. I want to retain the Premiership title with Manchester United and look back on breaking any records when I retire."

Then turning to Wales, Giggs smiled: "We top the group and are so close to the finals in Portugal, we don't want to let it slip now at the vital time."

Mark Hughes' Group Nine pace-setters face tough trips to out-of-sorts Serbia-Montenegro and second-placed Italy before welcoming Finland to Cardiff - all in the short space of three weeks.

"It is vitally important that we've got everyone fit," Giggs insisted. "I know John Hartson (calf) is struggling and with him being the focal point of our attacks he's crucial for us.

"And with three games in 21 days we need everyone reporting fit and ready for duty.

Serbia have got a new manager and have big changes on the playing front and could be described as a team in crisis but that can work in their favour.

"Hopefully though it will have a detrimental effect on them and help us. The first game in Serbia a week on Wednesday is a big game, it would be great to start off with a win so our confidence is high for the following two games with Italy and Finland."

Giggs won a domestic medal in his home-town yesterday as United's 4-3 penalty shoot-out win, following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes in sweltering heat, was their first success at the Cardiff arena. It was third time lucky for Sir Alex Ferguson as their bitter rivals Liverpool beat them on both previous visits to the Millennium Stadium - in last season's Worthington Cup final and the Community Shield of 2001.

And a beaming Giggs was relieved that the Old Trafford giants had finally got over their jinx of his second home.

"It was a relief and it was good to get one over Arsenal," he said.

"It's always difficult against them, especially in that heat, but I don't think it gives us an edge in the race for the Premiership title. The Community Shield, in all respect, is a nothing game really."