Tim Sherwood looks to Stiliyan Petrov for Villa inspiration

Tim Sherwood insists Stiliyan Petrov can inspire Aston Villa’s strugglers after adding the ex-captain to his backroom team.

Petrov retired in 2013 after being diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2012, although he went into remission in August of that year.

He was involved in the build up to Villa’s crucial 2-1 win over West Brom on Tuesday which ended a run of seven straight defeats and took them out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Sherwood hopes Petrov, who will help coach the first team, will be able to offer some clarity to his side.

“What Stan Petrov has gone through is life and death,” he said, ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final against Albion. “The players look at him and have a lot of admiration for what he has done as a player at this club and in his life, what he has come through. I’ve asked Stan to relax the players as much as possible. I will try to gain every possible advantage as I can.”