Aston Villa have announced that Stiliyan Petrov will take part in pre-season training as he bids to return to professional football.

In 2012, Petrov was diagnosed with leukaemia - bringing an immediate end to his playing career - but Petrov has recently said that he was hoping to carry on where he left off and four years on, he has been given a chance by his former club Villa.

The West Midlands outfit have said that the 36-year-old will join the squad for their pre-season trip to Austria next week as he continues to build up his fitness ahead of a possible return later this year.

Before his illness, Petrov scored 12 times in 218 appearances for Villa and if he is able to prove himself to new boss Roberto Di Matteo, it would come as a huge boost to both Petrov and the club as they start a new era under new owner Tony Xia.