• Premier League

Petrov in 'amazing spirits' - McLeish

ESPN staff
April 2, 2012
Alex McLeish: "The support he has had from football friends, we are delighted and proud of." © Getty Images
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Stiliyan Petrov will meet his battle with leukaemia "head on", according to Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish.

Bulgarian midfielder Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last week and began his treatment in London on Monday.

McLeish and Villa owner Randy Lerner travelled to the capital to visit Petrov who the club want to be left in peace to continue his cancer fight.

"The chairman Randy Lerner, chief executive Paul Faulkner, and myself went to see Stiliyan today on this the first day of his road to recovery," McLeish told Sky Sports News. "He is determined to meet it head on. He was talking positively and could not wait to get started to clear up this illness.

"The support he has had from football friends, we are delighted and proud of. Stan himself is in amazing spirits. God knows what the lad is thinking in his head but he has shown the commitment on the pitch that he is a pure leader and he wants to lead himself through this particularly tough time.

"He faces a battle, he will stand up to that battle and this afternoon he has been talking about coming back to training as he feels he can train. That is the kind of spirits he is in.

"We want to support him and that's why we felt it appropriate we came today on his first day towards recovery."

McLeish has called on the press and public to afford Petrov and his family space in order to focus their attentions on his battle with illness.

"We want to be guided by Stan and his wife and we will do their bidding," McLeish said. "We realise there will be a lot of people clamouring to talk to him and I am sure at some stage he will want to say a few words himself.

"We are making this statement today because he will be going through a battle. There won't be daily bulletins, we will update when we feel it is appropriate."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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