Leeds United sensation Kun Temenuzhkov has confirmed on Twitter that he has been called up to the Bulgaria Under-19s squad for their fixtures next month.
Temenuzhkov, 17, was signed by Leeds from Barcelona last summer as he became one of the most exciting additions to a mass overhaul of the club’s youth set-up.
The Bulgaria youth international has attracted attention from outside of Elland Road, with the Guardian naming him in a list of one of the world’s outstanding youngsters and comparing him to Barcelona and Uruguay star Luis Suarez.
The Leeds teenager has now taken the next step in his career by being promoted to the Bulgaria Under-19s squad after previously representing his nation at Under-16s, Under-17s and Under-18s levels.
“Very happy to return this February 12 with the national team of Bulgaria U-19,” Temenuzhkov said on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday evening. “Continue working and meet objectives”.
Very happy to return this February 12 with the national team of Bulgaria U-19. ??
Continue working and meet objectives. ??
Muy feliz de regresar este 12 de febrero con el equipo nacional de Bulgaria Sub-19. pic.twitter.com/OMnuHicsPL
— Kun Temenuzhkov (@HoskunTemeuzkov) January 24, 2018
OPINION
Temenuzhkov has attracted rave reviews for his performances at age-group level for club and country but it is clear that he has some way to go before being considered for a Leeds senior call-up. Despite all his potential, he is yet to be in the shake-up for a place in Thomas Christiansen’s senior side, even though their strikers have delivered hit-and-miss seasons and the club admit they are in the market for a late January centre-forward signing. Some fans have called on social media for Temenuzhkov to be fast-tracked into the first-team squad but it is telling that he is behind not only Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kemar Roofe in the pecking order, but also Jay-Roy Grot, whose limitations at that level during his 15 senior appearances this season have been cruelly exposed. The Bulgarian’s time will surely come, but he must remain patient and continue to develop.