Matthäus puts stamp on Bulgaria squad

Lothar Matthäus has wasted no time putting his imprint on the Bulgaria national team after naming three uncapped players in his squad for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Wales on 8 October.

Matthäus was unveiled as Stanimir Stoilov's replacement only ten days ago but demonstrated he has done his homework after turning to untried trio Boyan Peykov, Nikolay Bodurov and Daniel Dimov. All play their football in the Bulgarian A League, but there is no place for Parma FC striker Valeri Bozhinov, nor for Sanfrecce Hiroshima defender Iliyan Stoyanova.

PSV Eindhoven full-back Stanislav Manolev is injured so FC Universitatea Craiova's Valentin Iliev returns to the fold, as does Blagoy Georgiev after recovering from a knee problem. Bulgaria, who kicked off Group G with back-to-back defeats by England and Montenegro, face Wales before a friendly against Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on 12 October.

Bulgaria squad
Goalkeepers: Nikolay Mihaylov (FC Twente), Vladislav Stoyanov (FC Sheriff), Boyan Peykov (PFC Lokomotiv Sofia).

Defenders: Ivan Ivanov (FC Alania Vladikavkaz), Zhivko Milanov (FC Vaslui), Valentin Iliev (FC Universitatea Craiova), Veselin Minev (PFC Levski Sofia), Yordan Miliev (PFC Levski Sofia), Pavel Vidanov (PFC CSKA Sofia), Nikolay Bodurov (PFC Litex Lovech), Petar Zanev (PFC Litex Lovech).

Midfielders: Chavdar Yankov (FC Rostov), Daniel Dimov (PFC Cherno More Varna), Georgi Peev (FC Amkar Perm), Nikolay Dimitrov (Kasimpasa SK), Stanislav Angelov (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa FC), Blagoy Georgiev (FC Terek Grozny), Martin Petrov (Bolton Wanderers FC).

Forwards: Dimitar Rangelov (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Ivelin Popov (Gaziantepspor), Dimitar Makriev (FC Ashdod), Valeri Domovchiyski (Hertha BSC Berlin), Tsvetan Genkov (PFC Lokomotiv Sofia).