Todorov hoping to beat flu bug
A flu bug may have ruined Portsmouth striker Svetoslav Todorov’s chances of starting his first Premiership match for nearly two years.
Former West Ham forward Todorov, who played the entire second half as a substitute in his side’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough last Saturday, had been looking good to complete his recovery from two serious knee injuries at home to high riding Charlton tomorrow.
“He came into training on Thursday and hopefully will be able to do some work on Friday,” said manager Alain Perrin. “Then we will see how he is”.
Todorov ruptured knee ligaments in training just two days before Pompey’s debut in the Premiership in August 2003.
He had scored 26 goals in their promotion season and after surgery in America attempted a return against Liverpool at Anfield 19 months ago but had to quit the game at half time.
A further operation eventually proved necessary but he has been on the fringes of the squad this season – missing a penalty in the shock 3-2 defeat by Gillingham in the Carling Cup.
Todorov’s performance at Middlesbrough was the most heartening yet as he set up the goal for Gary O’Neil.
Perrin has another striker on standby in Zambian Collins Mbesuma, who signed at the start of the season from South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs.
He has now scored three goals in the reserves but was withdrawn from the second string clash at Charlton on Wednesday.
Midfielders Richard Hughes (groin) and Salif Diao (hamstring) are still likely to be missing but defender Andy Griffin is available after limping off with ankle trouble at The Riverside.
Perrin’s big need is still goals and a win at home before he raids the transfer market again for strikers in January. It would be a major boost if he could repeat his first game in charge – a 4-2 win over Charlton back in April.
