Bulgaria will be without three players for tomorrow's UEFA Nations League fixture against Ireland after they tested positive for Covid-19.

Goalkeeper Hristian Vassilev, left-back Dimitar Velkovski and captain Vasil Bozhikov returned positive samples for the coronavirus after PCR tests conducted on Monday, the Bulgaria FA confirmed, with all three players subsequently pulling out of the squad.

All other Bulgarian squad members and staff tested negative and the Bulgarian FA added that they are not calling up replacements for the three absent players ahead of their flight from Sofia to Dublin scheduled for 10am on Tuesday.

Stephen Kenny's side will be aiming to avoid relegation from Nations League B during the fixture at the Aviva Stadium.

The Boys in Green are third in Group B4 after Sunday's defeat to Wales, one point above Bulgaria whose only point of the campaign came against Ireland in September's 1-1 draw in Sofia. 

Ireland will retain their place in League B if they avoid defeat on Wednesday but Kenny's squad have been hit by a number of withdrawals including Matt Doherty and James McClean who tested positive for Covid-19.

Midfielder Alan Browne had tested positive for the virus following last Thursday's friendly match against England.

The FAI have confirmed that the Ireland squad have all tested negative for the virus since the withdrawal of Doherty and McClean. 

"The Football Association of Ireland can confirm that all players and staff tested negative for Covid-19 ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against Bulgaria," they said in a statement. 

"The round of testing took place yesterday on arrival back into Dublin ahead of the fixture on Wednesday, November 18 at the Aviva Stadium." 

Meanwhile Wales caretaker manager Robert Page confirmed that none of his players have tested positive for Covid-19 in their most recent round of testing, despite playing against Doherty and McClean on Sunday.

"The Republic of Ireland have had a tough time of it with the amount of people that have tested positive, and of course it's been a concern for us," Page said at his pre-match press conference.

"But we've tested the players and all have come back negative thankfully. The medical team have looked at the game back and there's no concerns at all."