Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has insisted that he is willing to keep the captain's armband for as long as necessary while Stiliyan Petrov continues to seek treatment for acute leukaemia.

The England international was handed the captaincy after regular skipper Petrov was diagnosed with the disease at the end of March.

"I've matured as a player so the prospect of being captain isn't as daunting as it might have been a couple of years ago," Agbonlahor told the club's official website.

"I'm willing to do the job for as long as required, although as far as I'm concerned there's only one captain of this club.

"I am honoured to be wearing the captain's armband and I just wish it could have been in different circumstances. My biggest wish is that Stiliyan will come back and lead us again."

The 25-year-old will lead his side out against Premier League leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.