MARTIN Petrov is out to ensure the worst year of his professional career at least has a happy ending.

After the sudden collapse of team-mate Fabrice Muamba in March and then the shock news that close friend Stiliyan Petrov, the Aston Villa captain, had been diagnosed with leukaemia, Wanderers’ own toils and troubles on the field of play rather pale into insignificance.

It makes it all the more remarkable, then, that after a rather chequered 18 months on the wing, the well-travelled Bulgarian international has suddenly started to flourish at the Reebok.

If anyone looks capable of earning Wanderers the win they so vitally need at Stoke tomorrow, it is the lean, mean crossing machine from Sofia.

Little wonder, then, that with a summer of change on the cards, Owen Coyle has sought to tie Petrov down to a new one-year deal.

Whether that will be spent in the Premier League or the Championship depends on the outcome of the next 90 minutes of Petrov’s 17-year career.

For all the grand European stages he has played on, Petrov admits tomorrow’s win-or-bust showdown outranks them all in the pressure stakes.

“It is an extreme end to the season to decide who drops and who stays,” he told The Bolton News. “I have not played in a game like this before.

“It is not good for us because we had so many chances to go up. But we missed them.

“But now we have one big last chance and it doesn’t matter how we play, who scores, just that we win.”

Like most around the Reebok, Petrov will be glad to see the back of the 2011/12 season, which seems to have lurched from one disaster to the next.

But out of despair comes hope, and if the Whites get the results they need tomorrow, Petrov feels a corner might finally have been turned.

“I don’t want to be part of what has happened this season with Fabrice Muamba and my friend Stylian Petrov,” he said. “It is the worst year in my career, especially now with what's happening to Bolton.

“It's been a very difficult season but I hope the year will have a happy ending which is the most important thing.”

Petrov was voted player of the year by the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association last week after a strong finish to the campaign.

And while the former Atletico Madrid, Wolfsburg and Manchester City man was happy to collect the award, he admitted it has come as somewhat of a surprise.

“It will feel a lot better when we stay up,” he said. “I thank the supporters, of course, but I just want one favour from me to them: just to come with us and be our 12th player on the pitch. And after the game we celebrate altogether.

“I have tried my best on the pitch and I know what I can do. Of course, I am frustrated if I don't play well or if I am not on the team. It's like this with every player.

“And it is not easy for Zat Knight, Paul Robinson or other players. They are experienced players. Everyone wants to be part of this and try to help team stay in Premier L:eague.”

So faced with the scenario on Sunday that City are leading QPR 3-0, while the scoreline at the Britannia hangs in the balance at 0-0 on 85 minutes and Wanderers win a penalty, Petrov laughs when asked who would be claiming the ball.

“If I don't take the penalty who is going to take it? he said. “I take the penalty and hopefully I will score. But yes, the pressure will be there.

“I just concentrate and stay positive and imagine what happens 30 seconds after I kick the ball.”