Aston Villa have confirmed recently retired Stiliyan Petrov will take up a new role as assistant to development coach Gordon Cowans at the club’s academy.

Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov has paid his first visit to the club’s training ground since being diagnosed with acute leukaemia and is in “good spirits”, according to first-team coach Gordon Cowans.

Aston Villa are set to unveil new manager Alex McLeish later today and first team coach Gordon Cowans is looking forward to working with the former Birmingham boss.

Mark Delaney and Aaron Hughes have praised Aston Villa’s “unsung heroes” in coaches Gordon Cowans, Kevin MacDonald and Tony McAndrew for producing a conveyor belt of young talent.