Injuries but no worries for Bulgaria's Stoichkov

SOFIA, Sep 5 (Reuters) Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has brushed off the absence of four key players for tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Striker Dimitar Berbatov and goalkeeper Georgi Petkov both picked up injuries in last weekend's 2-2 Group G draw with Balkan rivals Romania, while forward Svetoslav Todorov and defender Igor Tomasic are also unavailable.

''We'll be missing some of our most influential players but I still can't see anything to worry about,'' Stoichkov told reporters today.

''We have players who are ready to replace them and I'm sure they will not disappoint us.'' Stoichkov, whose team were 2-0 down on Saturday before Martin Petrov's late double gave them a point, said: ''We all know how important the Slovenia match is.

''We need the three points and I hope the momentum that took us to the remarkable comeback in Romania on Saturday can be maintained in the first match in front of our supporters.'' Berbatov's absence opens the door for flamboyant Juventus striker Valeri Bozhinov, who was a second-half substitute for Berbatov on Saturday and, just 24 hours later, scored in a 2-1 win over Croatia with the Under-21s.

''Valeri will step in for Berbatov and you all know that he is capable of scoring goals at any level,'' Stoichkov said.

Forward Hristo Yovov has been given a call-up, Petkov will be replaced by Dimitar Ivankov and an administrative problem with Croatian-born Tomasic's Bulgarian nationality means a choice between Alexander Tunchev or Rosen Kirilov.

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