Darren Bent: 'Petrov is a warrior'

Aston Villa's Darren Bent has paid tribute to teammate Stiliyan Petrov, who is undergoing treatment for acute leukaemia.

The England forward visited his club captain in hospital earlier today, and backed him to beat the disease.

"Just went to see Stan, he is a true warrior and I know he will beat it," he wrote on Twitter.

Petrov was diagnosed with the illness last week, prompting a flurry of tributes to the former Celtic midfielder.

Villa manager Alex McLeish said that Petrov is in high spirits following his first day of treatment.