Petrov To Train With Aston Villa First Team

Former Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov will train with the club's first team this summer four years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 36-year-old announced back in April that he was planning to make a playing comeback at the highest possible level. 

Petrov, who is in remission after his battle with acute leukaemia, was diagnosed with the disease in 2012 and retired from the game in 2013.

Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo has allowed Petrov to join the first team squad as they return to training next week. He will also travel with the squad to Austria for a training camp. 

A club statement read: "Aston Villa football club is pleased to confirm Stiliyan Petrov will take part in pre-season training at first-team level.

"Manager Roberto Di Matteo has revealed the former club captain will travel with the group to Austria as he joins the squad at their training camp.

"Stan will report next week with the rest of the group.''

He first joined Villa in 2006 from Celtic and went on to make 219 appearances for the club, scoring 12 times.