Stiliyan Petrov to join Aston Villa for pre-season

The midfielder, who was forced to retire after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012, now wants to resume his playing career and new Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo has agreed he can train with the first-team at Bodymoor Heath.

There is no suggestion Petrov, who will also travel to the club's pre-season training camp in Austria, will be offered a deal, though he will have the chance to impress. At the age of 36, the former Bulgarian international has acknowledged the odds are stacked against him as he looks to return to the game after such a lengthy absence.

Petrov underwent three spells of chemotherapy while battling the disease, during which his weight increased considerably.

He is now down to the same level as during his playing days and spent the second half of last season training with Villa's under-21s.

In April, Petrov announced his intention to return to the professional game, saying: "I've been working close to the idea for a year-and-a-half and I've managed to come a long way. I started gradually with slow runs then I moved to five-a-side and then 11-a-side and half a pitch, then Sunday league.

"I've been given permission to train with Villa U21s for the last four months. We've done a couple of tests in the last two weeks and my fitness is getting close to when I retired. I'm really excited and I understand the odds will be against me."

Petrov, who has raised £250,000 for cancer charities, added: "I'm getting fitter, I'm getting my life back to like what it used to be and it's a way forward. I deal with a lot of people who struggle to get their life back on track after going through treatment like that. It's hard. The family, the future, it's dark out there.

"I've got it in my mind, even if it doesn't happen, I've tried. It was taken away from me. I've worked hard all my life to be a footballer and it was taken away from me. I've been given a chance again to do it."