Stiliyan Petrov will make a return to professional football next season and wants to lead Aston Villa back into the Premier League.

The midfielder was diagnosed with acute leukaemia four years ago but has been training with Villa’s Under 21s.

Petrov, 36, now believes he is fit enough to make a fairytale comeback to the professional ranks.

Stiliyan Petrov is set to return to professional football and hopes to play for Aston Villa in the Championship

Petrov feared he would never play again after being diagnosed with leukaemia but beat the disease

Petrov poses with former Villa team-mate James Milner and their partners at the 'Nightmare before Christmas' gala event in Manchester in November 2015

STILIYAN PETROV CAREER STATS CSKA Sofia (1996-1999) Appearances: 43 Goals: 6 Celtic (1999-2007) Appearances: 312 Goals: 65 Aston Villa (2006-2013) Appearances: 218 Goals: 12 Bulgaria (1998-2011) Caps: 105 Goals: 8 Advertisement

He made his bombshell announcement at the launch of the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation golf day at The Belfry.

Looking trim and fit, Petrov said: ‘I'm looking forward to a return to football again.

'I've told Aston Villa that I'm ready to start a pre-season with them. Obviously they will always have the first look.

‘I've been working close to the idea for a year and a half and I've managed to come a long way. I started gradually with slow runs then I moved to five-a-side and then 11-a-side and half a pitch, then Sunday League.

'I've been given permission to train with Villa U21s for the last four months. We've done a couple of tests in the last two weeks and my fitness is getting close to when I retired.

‘I'm really excited and I understand the odds will be against me.’

Petrov captained the side before his diagnosis and has since been training with the club's Under 21s

Petrov was diagnosed with the disease four years ago and went through three years of chemotherapy. He has remained close to Villa during that period and even had a spell of coaching the Under-21s with Gordon Cowans when Paul Lambert was manager.

Since his illness he has raised £250,000 for cancer charities and will have a star-studded cast at his golf day on May 8, including former Villa manager Martin O’Neill.

‘People will be asking a lot of questions and having a lot of doubts,’ Petrov admitted. ‘Obviously I wasn't one of these players who sprinted in wide positions. I'll be playing in a position that for me has always been five-to-ten yards. You can gain that with hard work.

‘I'm really excited because of how far I have come. The Foundation deal with a lot of people who work hard to get back to their natural life after treatment so I want to show people that there is a life after treatment and you can step on your own feet and get fitter.

The Bulgarian waves to Villa supporters at Villa Park shortly after being sidelined following his diagnosis

‘I'm getting fitter, I'm getting my life back to like what it used to be and it's a way forward. I deal with a lot of people who struggle to get their life back on track after going through treatment like that.

'It's hard. The family, the future, it's dark out there.

‘I've got it in my mind, even if it doesn't happen, I've tried. It was taken away from me. I've worked hard all my life to be a footballer and it was taken away from me. I've been given a chance again to do it.

‘I'm 36, but players are playing at 38, 39,40. I've looked after myself well and I think I've got a good shout.’

Petrov, who also played for Celtic, enjoyed a charity match at Parkhead as he fought the disease in 2013

Villa’s season has been a disaster with relegation the consequence of splits in the camp, poor managing and dreadful recruitment.

Petrov can be an inspirational figure if Villa decide to offer him a route back into the professional game.

He warns that there will be a tough task ahead but would love to be part of it.

He added: ‘They're relegated not just because of individual error but collective error. Now they need to understand they have 12 big months ahead and everyone needs to pull in the right direction.

‘Fans, the new board, the players, everyone needs to understand there needs to be a hard 12 months, it'll be a bumpy road, playing Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday.

'But if everyone pulls together then we can make this club great again.’