Stiliyan Petrov will train with Aston Villa during preseason -- four years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Petrov, 36, is in remission after his battle with acute leukaemia and announced in April that he was planning to make a playing comeback.
And new Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo has given his blessing for the former club captain to join the squad at their training camp in Austria.
"Aston Villa football club is pleased to confirm Stiliyan Petrov will take part in preseason training at first-team level," a club statement said. "Stan will report next week with the rest of the group."
We can confirm @StanPetrov19 will join the first team for pre-season. #AVFC pic.twitter.com/CcwlLjInOF
- Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) June 23, 2016
Petrov initially retired in 2013 following his cancer diagnosis in 2012, but has been training with Villa's Under-21s ahead of a possible comeback.
He joined the Midlands club from Celtic in 2006 and went on to make 219 appearances, scoring 12 times.