WALES' Mr Reliable Mark Delaney is "amazed" that an army of 10,000 Welsh fans are already preparing for a trip to Italy when Mark Hughes' men face a showdown with the mighty Azzurri - in seven months time.

The previous record away-day Wales support was the 4,500 followers that watched Wales lose to 4-1 to West Germany in Nuremberg in 1991 in a European Championship qualifier.

But Hughes has breathed new life into Welsh football since replacing Bobby Gould in 1999 and with Wales sitting pretty at the summit of Euro 2004 qualifying Group Nine after a 100 per cent start, the euphoria surrounding the national team is reaching fever pitch.

The fans have responded too. A capacity 72,500 will fill the Millennium Stadium for the Azerbaijan return on March 29 and more than 55,000 are expected for Wales' friendly with Bosnia, also in Cardiff, next month.

Now, after a 2,000 following descended on Finland last September, Welsh fans are set to hit the road again - and how.

But the Football Association of Wales cannot confirm which Italian city will stage the crunch Group Nine clash, though fans are desperate to book their travel arrangements.

The FAW also revealed that 2,500 fans will make the trek to Belgrade when Hughes' troops clash with Yugoslavia on April 2.

However, Aston Villa right-back Delaney only needs to cast his mind back 18 months when scarcely 12,000 dedicated supporters watched Wales beat Belarus in the Millennium Stadium in a World Cup qualifier - now almost that much are planning a trip to the Med in September.

Delaney, capped 19 times, beamed: "The turnaround in support is amazing.

"I remember playing in the Belarus game and only 12,000 people turned out, I have never played in a arena that was so scantily populated.

"Now, after a cracking run of results we're almost taking that much support away. It's absolutely amazing.

"But we must make sure we keep our performances at a high level, keep the run going and expectations high then maybe we could achieve our ambitions.

"And if we're apparently taking 10,000 to Italy, then just how many would go to Portugal next summer if we get there? We'd take half of Wales.

"But that's a long way off. We have won three out of three qualifying games but there's still five games remaining. We must remain concentrated on the job in hand."

And FAW spokesman added: "We expect more than 10,000 Welsh football fans to travel to Italy.

"It's proving particularly popular because of the time of year and the destination. The Italian FA have told us they will announce the venue in June."

Delaney started his first Villa game on Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur since he broke his foot on international duty in Azerbaijan last November but, like Welsh skipper Gary Speed and hopefully young defender Danny Gabbidon, is set to face Bosnia on Wednesday, February 12 (7.45pm).

l Wales' under-20 side will play Korea in a Ninian Park friendly game on Tuesday, February 11 (7.30pm).