McLeish: fighter Stan will beat illness

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish believes the fighting spirit of skipper Stiliyan ‘Stan’ Petrov will help him in his battle to overcome acute leukaemia.

The condition was diagnosed following tests after Bulgaria international Petrov developed a fever following last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Messages of support for the former Celtic player, who it is understood is due to begin treatment in London on Monday, flooded in after the news was confirmed in a Villa statement yesterday afternoon.