Stiliyan Petrov on course to win fitness race for Aston Villa opener
Aug 12 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
CAPTAIN elect Stiliyan Petrov is winning his race to be fit to lead Villa into their Premier League curtain-raiser against Wigan on Saturday.
A dislocated shoulder which cut short his Peace Cup involvement also ruled Petrov out of Villa’s friendly victory over Fiorentina last weekend.
But manager Martin O’Neill, who is set to confirm the Bulgarian midfielder as Villa’s new skipper, is optimistic Petrov will play on Saturday.
O’Neill will also check on condition of Fabian Delph’s sore foot after he played 58 minutes of England under-21s’ 0-0 draw with Holland last night.
Luke Young has resumed training following a thigh injury, but the Wigan game is likely to come to soon for him with Habib Beye set for a debut at right-back, while reserve team midfielder Moustapha Salifou is still getting over illness.
