Todorov bemused by Bulgaria snub

The Fratton Park club's joint top goal-scorer cannot understand why he has been overlooked by Bulgaria boss Plamen Markov, as the Eastern European country faces Croatia and Andorra this month in Euro 2004 qualifying.

The 24-year-old has been in good form since his £750,000 move from Premiership side West Ham in April but has only been named in one of the last seven Bulgarian squads picked by Markov.

Having been snubbed at the international level, Todorov told The News of his confusion to why has been left out of his country's set-up.

Todorov said: "I can play every game for Portsmouth and score lots of goals, but it will always be different strikers who will be called up for Bulgaria.

"I want to play my country but at the moment I'm not, even though I feel I'm doing well for Pompey. What more can I do?

"The players who play in Bulgaria who aren't in their club side, or are not playing well, will still be the ones who get the call to play for the national team.

"Some of the other Bulgarian strikers get injured or are not playing well, and I still don't get the call.

"You can make of that what you will, but I don't think the problem is my fault."

The striker has 21 caps to his name since emerging as a top hit-man with Bulgarian side Litek Lovech and was earning calls to the Bulgarian squad despite not having a regular place with The Hammers.

He added: "Of course I would love to play for Bulgaria again, but the game is different out there to other places.

"It's not more difficult to play in the Bulgarian league, but I am in a different country to many of the players.

"There is one striker who plays in the Chinese league, but he still gets in the team in front of me.

"Maybe they don't think I'm good enough, I don't know. It just seems that they don't care.

"I'll just keep going with Pompey and keep doing the best for this team.

"I will play for Bulgaria again - I just can't see it happening at present."