Stiliyan Petrov backs Aston Villa to climb the table during his injury-enforced absence

Nov 2 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

CROCKED captain Stiliyan Petrov has backed Villa to kickstart their season during his injury-enforced three-month absence.

Petrov will not need surgery on the knee problem he picked up at Sunderland but is still likely to be sidelined until February.

It is a blow to Villa boss Gerard Houllier, who is having to proceed with a threadbare squad hit by suspensions and injuries.

But Petrov is confident Villa will rediscover their form despite just one win from Houllier’s first five Premier League games.

Since kicking off his reign with a victory at Wolves, Houllier’s Villa have drawn at home to Chelsea and Blues and lost at Tottenham and Sunderland.

However, Petrov believes they have the quality to improve on their position in the Premier League, starting at Fulham on Saturday.

The Bulgarian midfielder has been a virtual ever-present for Villa since being Martin O’Neill’s first signing in the summer of 2006.

And Petrov will still be playing a part behind the scenes during his longest lay-off since breaking his leg with Celtic a decade ago.

“I am bitterly disappointed not to be involved,” he said.