FORMER Aston Villa club captain Stiliyan Petrov could continue his football comeback after battling leukaemia by facing Worcester City.

The popular 37-year-old former Bulgarian international is in line to figure in one of Villa's pre-season friendlies on Saturday when they play at Telford United and against City at Stourport Swifts.

The Championship giants, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are likely to split their first-team squad for the games against the National League North rivals.

Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012, suspending his football career to have treatment which was ultimately successful.

The former Celtic midfielder announced his retirement from the game in May 2013 but then began training with Villa's under 21s in April this year.

He trained with the first team in their pre-season tour of Austria on a non-contract basis.

Petrov then made his Villa first-team return in an 8-0 friendly victory over Austrian team GAK, playing 45 minutes.

Villa's new manager Roberto Di Matteo said: “Stiliyan is an example of willingness and bravery to everybody that is here.

“He has come into pre-season and not missed one minute. You can see how hard he is working in training. Then there’s the story he has gone through in the past."