Fit Berbatov eyes Bonev's scoring record in Malta match

Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov hopes to break his country's goal-scoring record in tomorrow's friendly against Malta after recovering from a knee injury.

The Manchester United forward, who sustained the injury during his side's 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers earlier this month, had missed matches against CSKA Moscow and Chelsea.

"I received a kick in my knee during the Blackburn match and I needed some rest and some treatment but I'm okay now and I'll play in Malta," Berbatov told reporters.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker scored a hat-trick in Bulgaria's emphatic 6-2 win over Georgia in a World Cup qualifier last month to take his tally to 46 international goals, one short of former captain Hristo Bonev's record.

"I'm thinking about it (the record), of course. I've scored many goals so far and I hope that with the help of my team-mates I'll do it," Berbatov said.

Berbatov missed Bulgaria's goalless draw against Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk in a friendly match last Friday but has been included in the 18-man party for the Malta friendly. Coach Stanimir Stoilov has named a strong squad for tomorrow's match at the Hibs Ground (kick-off 7 p.m.).

Apart from Berbatov, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season with Manchester United, the likes of Parma's Valeri Bozhinov and Aston Villa's Stiliyan Petrov, are also in Stoilov's 18-man list which features several foreign-based players.

For Bozhinov, his visit to Malta is likely to evoke happy memories as the former Fiorentina forward spent some time living here with his parents when he was still a teenager.

Bozhinov, 23, showed his immense potential during a short spell with Pietà Hotspurs' youth team before leaving for Italy to join Lecce.

Manchester City winger Martin Petrov has pulled out of the Malta trip after sustaining a knee injury.

The 30-year-old, who has scored three goals for his club this season, was with Bulgaria preparing for friendly matches when the problem occurred.

According to City, Petrov has a slight sprain of the inner ligament in the left knee. He has returned to the club's Carrington training ground where he is undergoing rehabilitation work.

Bulgaria failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals after finishing third in Group Eight, 10 points behind group winners Italy.

Bulgaria squad

Goalkeepers: D. Ivankov (Bursa-spor, Turkey), N. Mihaylov (Twente, Netherlands).

Defenders: I. Ivanov (Beroe), Z. Milanov (Levski Sofia), V. Minev (Levski Sofia), I. Bandalovski (Lokomotiv Sofia), P. Nikolov (Litex Lovech), S. Manolev (PSV Eindhoren, Netherlands).

Midfielders: C. Yankov (Duisburg, Germany), B. Georgiev (Terek Grozny, Russia), G. Sarmov (Levski Sofia), I. Stoyanov (CSKA Sofia), S. Angelov (E. Cottbus, Germany), S. Petrov (Aston Villa, England).

Forwards: V. Domovchiyski (H. Berlin, Germany), D. Rangelov (Bor. Dortmund, Germany), V. Bozhinov (Parma, Italy), D. Berbatov (Man. United, England).