Petrov likely to be fit for cup clash
Friday 22nd January 2010, 11:58AM GMT.
Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov is winning his race to be fit for the FA Cup clash with Brighton.
The midfielder required an injection on an Achilles problem at half-time during Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final victory over Blackburn, but managed to battle through the 90 minutes.
Despite still feeling some discomfort, the Bulgaria international has been told by club medical staff he will be OK for the fourth-round clash at Villa Park, which will come as a welcome boost for boss Martin O’Neill who already has doubts hanging over John Carew and Nigel Reo-Coker.
Petrov said: “I have a problem with my Achilles and on Wednesday night I got a kick. The doctor’s say I’ll be OK for Saturday, but it’s still painful at the moment so we’ll monitor it and decide at the last moment.
“We were 2-0 down and I was really struggling but the doctor Roddy MacDonald told me to run it off.
“It was painful, but it was worth it in the end. At half-time I needed to have an injection to try to keep going because it was painful, very inflamed and swollen. They were really worrying. I couldn’t remember if I had a knock or pulled a muscle.
“So we just took a precaution, I had an injection and, to be honest, it didn’t get worse. It felt better on Thursday and I hope in the next few days it will progress again.
“When we battle together you just try to give as much as you can to the team. At half-time, we said if it gets worse I’ll come off but luckily it didn’t.
O’Neill is likely to rotate his squad for the visit of the League One Seagulls, meaning the likes of Petrov, Gabby Agbonlahor, James Milner and Richard Dunne are likely to sit on the bench.
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Time to rest some players against Brighton, swap them with the bench and only use them if really nescessary.
Ciaran Clark, Salifou, Delph, and Delfounso would do a good job I think, maybe even one of the reserve keepers. I dont think we will get a better chance this season to blood a few.
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