Joe Bennent has given his backing to Stiliyan Petrov and has backed the former Villa captain to make a big impact for Villa in the Championship this season.
Bennent, who has scarcely featured for Villa since 2013 after a poor first season, scored twice during his return to the Villa team in Saturday’s friendly against Austrian side GAK 1902 which Villa won 8-0.
Also returning in Saturday’s game was Stiliyan Petrov, who pulled on a Villa shirt for the first time since March 2012 as he took another huge step in his inspirational and amazing recovery from acute Leukemia.
Speaking to the BBC after Saturday’s 8-0 win, the former Middlesborough left-back said:
It was really good to see him back out there.
He’s obviously been through a tough time and I’ve got a lot of respect for him and you can see, when he’s out there, he can still play football.
He also gave his backing to Petrov to have a big impact for Villa in the Championship, with a decision on whether Petrov will be awarded a contract by Roberto Di Matteo when Villa return from their tour of Austria.
He’s still got it and I think Stan can play a big part for us this season.
