Sofia: Midfielder Chavdar Yankov became the third player to withdraw from Bulgaria's squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Georgia due to injury, the Bulgarian Football Union said.
Yankov broke his hand after falling from a bicycle last month. He joined up with Bulgaria's training camp after being called-up by coach Stanimir Stoilov but withdrew on Tuesday after medical staff said his involvement in the matches on Oct. 10 and 14 could aggravate the injury.
Stoilov has already lost defender Alexander Tunchev and midfielder Georgi Surmov from his initial squad.
Yankov will be replaced by CSKA Sofia's Kosta Yanev.
Bulgaria, third in Group Eight - five points behind second-placed Ireland, must win their last two games to have a chance of making the playoffs for a place in South Africa.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, October 07, 2009, 09:17