Bulgaria and Northern Ireland, two sides that flirted with qualification for Euro 2008, but ultimately came short, will meet at Windsor Park in a friendly match on February 6 2008.

The game will be Plamen Markov's first in his second spell in charge of the Bulgarian national team, having taken over from Dimitar Penev last month.

Markov, who guided Bulgaria to its only appearance in a major tournament in the last decade, Euro 2004, will be without Aston Villa midfielder Stilian Petrov, who has picked up a concussion in his club's last match against Fulham, and Manchester City striker Valery Bojinov, still recovering from a knee injury.

But two other players plying their trade in England, Manchester City winger Martin Petrov and Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, are both set to take the field in the starting line-up.

For Northern Ireland, goalkeeper Michael McGovern has pulled out with a broken finger and central defender Stephen Craigan is on club duty with Motherwell, BBC Northern Ireland reported.