Former England cricket captain Sir Ian Botham has backed Stiliyan Petrov to win his battle with leukaemia.

The Aston Villa skipper, who was diagnosed with the illness last month, is receiving treatment at a London hospital.

"Our thoughts go out to him and his family," said Botham. "But Stan is fit and strong, it was diagnosed pretty early so I would expect to see him in a Villa shirt again."

Botham is currently taking part in one of his regular walks around the country to raise money and awareness of leukaemia.