National goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has torn ligaments in his right shoulder since the first match with the Republic of Ireland, which was played on Thursday in Plovdiv, MRI results show.
He collided with Irish defender Matt Doherty, seconds before the second goal in the Bulgarian goal and was unable to continue playing after the break, giving way to Plamen Iliev.
He is expected to be out of action for between three and four weeks, with the hope of being fit for the FA Cup final against Hearts, which is on April 19, or for the start of the Scottish Premier League play-offs, which begin a week later.
The Mitov said that in 10 years of his career he had only had two injuries, and now only within one season – three. First in December he suffered a thigh injury in a Scottish championship match for his Aberdeen against Kilmarnock, then in the first month of the new year he had another problem that took him out of action for four weeks.
The starting goalkeeper is with the team in Dublin, having watched training from the stands yesterday, where he will be today during the match. Immediately after the end of it, he will leave for Scotland to join his club team.
Tonight, Iliev, who is guarding for Cherno more (Varna), will start as a starter for Bulgaria for the first time since March 28, 2021 – home defeat by 0:2 to Italy under coach Yasen Petrov in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Bulgaria visits the Republic of Ireland tonight at 9:45 PM at the "Aviva Stadium" in Dublin in a second leg of the Nations League play-offs. The first leg in Plovdiv ended with the islanders winning 2:1, and the eventual winner advances to League B of the tournament.