Stiliyan Petrov '˜to train with Aston Villa in pre-season'

STILIYAN Petrov will train with Aston Villa during pre-season - four years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Stiliyan Petrov will train with Aston Villa during pre-season. File picture: Getty Images

The 36-year-old, who is in remission after his battle with acute leukaemia, announced in April he was planning to make a playing comeback.

New Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo has given his blessing for Petrov to join the squad at their training camp in Austria.

He will report next week having initially retired in 2013 following his diagnosis in 2012.

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.”

Petrov had been training with a view of returning to playing having not featured since 2012 and had been training with Villa’s Under-21s.

He made 219 appearances for the club, scoring 12 times, after joining from Celtic in 2006.