Aston Villa hold place for Stiliyan Petrov in squad list

Aston Villa have included cancer-stricken captain Stiliyan Petrov in their 25-man squad list for the Premier League.

Petrov, who has been fighting leukaemia for nine months, has been given the No.20 shirt as a mark of respect.

The popular midfielder, who was diagnosed with the illness in March, has not yet announced his retirement from the game and dreams of one day playing again.

And this tribute from Villa is a nod to that rather than offering any serious prospect of the 33-year-old returning to the game this season.

Petrov admits to being "overwhelmed" by the support he has received and recently announced that his illness was in remission.

But it is not thought he will be returning any time soon to training despite being handed a shirt in the club's official listings which had to be declared to the Premier League last night.

The latest bulletins from the club earlier this month made it clear Petrov was winning his fight. "Stan's fight is not over. There will be further battles to overcome in the days, weeks and months ahead," Villa said in a statement. "The club would like to thank everybody for continuing to respect Stan's privacy."

Premier League squad: Agbonlahor, Albrighton, Bannan, Bent, Clark, Delph, Dunne, El Ahmadi, Given, Guzan, Herd, Holman, Hutton, Ireland, Lichaj, Lowton, Westwood, Marshall, N'Zogbia, Petrov, Stevens, Vlaar, Warnock, Bennett, Benteke.