Hearts take Bulgarian striker on trial

Hearts have taken 19-year-old Bulgarian forward Nikolay Todorov on trial, the Evening News can reveal. The player is available for free from Nottingham Forest and is training with the under-20 squad at Riccarton.

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson is running the rule over Nikolai Todorov. Pic: SNS

Todorov played under-21 football in England club but is surplus to requirements at Forest. He is known as a hard-working striker with good aerial ability and is keen to make in impression on Hearts coaches Robbie Neilson, Stevie Crawford and Jon Daly this week.

Nottingham Forest originally brought him to Britain from the Bulgarian club Cherno More Varna two years ago. They handed him his first professional contract in February last year before sending him on loan to Worcester City and Hemel Hempstead earlier this season.

When Todorov signed for Forest, the club’s academy manager, Gary Brazil, said: “His attitude is first class. He works really hard both on the grass and in the gym. He’s very, very good in the air – especially in the box. He attacks the ball really well, as I think some of the first-team defenders will testify to from when he has trained with them.”