BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says that captain Stiliyan Petrov is in remission following treatment for acute leukemia.

Petrov was diagnosed with leukemia four months ago. Villa says on behalf of the Bulgarian international midfielder that "he and his family have been moved by the depth of feeling stirred in so many people and he has taken great strength from it, too."

The 32-year-old Petrov joined Aston Villa in 2006 from Celtic.