Soccer: Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov appears to be winning his fight to overcome acute leukaemia after the club confirmed the midfielder is in remission.

Bulgarian international Petrov has been undergoing regular treatment at a London hospital since the illness was diagnosed four months ago.

Now the player nicknamed 'Stan' has received a positive bulletin in his battle to defeat the cancer.

Villa, in a club statement, said: "It is with great delight that the club can confirm on behalf of our long-standing captain, Stiliyan Petrov, that Stan's acute leukaemia is in remission.