Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has been diagnosed with acute leukemia,as he began his first course of intensive treatment on Friday night. Petrov discovered the distressing results of his blood tests on Friday,and was immediately sent to London with the clubs doctor to begin his recovery process. He complained of a fever following the Villas defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates last weekend and,after a first set of tests left Villa's medical staff still concerned,he underwent a bone marrow scan on Thursday. The Bulgarian came to know about his condition after he received a phone call at mid-day yesterday confirming that he is suffering from leukemia. He then called up his representatives,Base Soccer Agency and informed them: "I have got leukemia." Villa manager Alex McLeish believes fighter Petrovs brave nature and attitude would ensure that he wins his fight against leukemia. "The thing is if Stiliyan was not running about and playing football,it might not have been spotted. Rather than saying he was feeling tired,he went back out there and that is the bravery of the man," The Telegraph quoted McLeish,as saying. "I could hear his defiance. He said: ''I'll fight this. There will be the utmost care for him. Whether it's our doctors,or the specialists,were confident he will fight this battle," he added. Petrov left for his first phase of treatment before any of his team -mates had been informed. McLeish added: "We are right on it. It will be motivation for our lads to go out tomorrow in the captains absence. Hes gone down to London to see what the next stage is."
