Kishishev back from wilderness for Bulgaria

BULGARIA’S new coach Hristo Stoichkov has recalled defender Radostin Kishishev for their friendly against Ireland on August 18 at Lansdowne Road.

The Charlton Athletic right-back was left out of Euro 2004 by former coach Plamen Markov after walking out on the team before a qualifier against Belgium.

Kishishev had been unhappy after being overlooked for the captaincy.

Midfielders Georgi Peev, Daniel Borimirov and Milen Petkov and defenders Predrag Pazhin and Zlatomir Zagorcic, however, who featured in Euro 2004, were not included in the 22-man squad announced yesterday.

Stoichkov said he would cut the squad to 18 after a training camp next month.

Goalkeepers: Zdravkov (Rizespor), Ivankov (Levski Sofia).

Defenders: Kishishev (Charlton Athletic), Ivailo Petkov (Fenerbahce), Stoyanov, Markov, Topuzakov (all Levski Sofia), Kirilov (Litex Lovech), Kotev (Lokomotiv Plovdiv).

Midfielders: Hristov (Wolfsburg), Petrov (Celtic), Yankov (Slavia Sofia), Yanev, Dimitrov, Gargorov (all CSKA Sofia).

Forwards: Petrov (Wolfsburg), Vladimir (Lille), Lazarov (Gaziantepspor), Berbatov (Bayer Leverkusen), Bojinov (Lecce), Chilikov (Levski Sofia), Kamburov (Lokomotiv Plovdiv).