Stiliyan Petrov is joining Aston Villa for their Championship pre-season

What an inspiration this man is.

Stiliyan Petrov hasn't played for Aston Villa for more than four years after his victorious battle with leukaemia. But the club has confirmed the legendary 36-year-old will link up with the side in their Championship pre-season. The former Celtic man has hero status at the Midlands club and if anyone can inspire a charge back up into the Premier League it's him. https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/745934202101710848 It hit the Bulgarian hard to watch his beloved Villa slip out of the top flight, but it now it looks like he could take some part in Villa's future if he can prove his form and fitness. Petrov trained with the U21 squad last season to get him on the road back to fitness as he tries to reignite his career. It looks like he may fly out with the squad to Austria over the summer. What a story it would be if he could take his place in the Villa side when the Championship season kicks off under Roberto Di Matteo. Villa fans on Twitter were delighted with the news the club hero will feature in pre-season... https://twitter.com/LukeMassey/status/745934644932186113 https://twitter.com/mark_kendrick/status/745934965012107264 https://twitter.com/MattyAVFC_/status/745934250516619264 https://twitter.com/avfcforever/status/745936464287006720 https://twitter.com/ryz_official/status/745934562623111169 https://twitter.com/Roy1Batty/status/745937581322407936 https://twitter.com/Iceman1875/status/745941157771894784 https://twitter.com/pintpot88/status/745940602810937344 https://twitter.com/karlsmith8511/status/745940330965508097