Cambridge United's Dimitar Mitov reveals Dimitar Berbatov message after FA Cup heroics

Among the 1,000-plus messages, after his greatest hits compilation at Newcastle, were two from Bulgarian football royalty Dimitar Berbatov and Stiliyan Petrov.

Watch goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov's stoppage-time save to deny Toon striker Joelinton in the FA Cup third round and you'll believe a man can fly.

They don't normally pack the bars from Sofia to the Black Sea resorts to watch Cambridge United, but the game was shown live in his native country and the response was extraordinary.

“My phone couldn't cope - I thought it was going to explode,” he laughed.

“It's amazing when people of Berbatov and Petrov's standing in the game message you to say well done. I even had some from Newcastle fans.

“But when I look back on my career, I hope that save will be the moment that changed my life. I believe it, 100 per cent.

“Maybe it will lead to recognition from my national team, I don't know. But every time there is an international break or training camp approaching and the phone rings, there is that little hope it's the Bulgaria coach.

“If he thinks I am good enough and deserve the chance, I'm sure it will come. I'm only 25 and every player's peak comes at a different time.

“Of course I don't compare myself with Premier League goalkeepers of the same age – I can only look after my own journey.

“I honestly don't think there would have been so much attention on that save if it had not been in the 95th minute, with a big Cup upset just a few seconds away.

“You know, it wasn't the best save of my life – it wasn't even my best save at Newcastle.”

When Mitov's fingertips had diverted Jacob Murphy's rasping shot against the bar in the first half, Geordie fans sportingly applauded his reflexes.

But after his sensational acrobatics