Slovenian international striker Milivoje Novakovic is retiring from international football, saying he wants to focus on his club career with Bundesliga side Cologne.

The 32-year-old – who has scored 19 goals in his 52 international appearances since making his debut in 2006 – has just returned to first team action after a long absence through injury.

“Yes, I am calling time on my international career,” he told a local Cologne newspaper on Monday.

Novakovic, whose decision was made easier when Slovenia failed to qualify for Euro 2012, has scored 71 goals for Cologne since joining from Bulgarian outfit Litex Lovech in 2006.