Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish admits the club has been stunned by Stiliyan Petrov's diagnosis.

Petrov, 32, was yesterday diagnosed with acute leukaemia - cancer of the blood - and rushed to a London hospital to begin immediate treatment for the condition.

The news shocked the club and left friends of the Bulgarian midfielder - nicknamed Stan - devastated.

McLeish said: "It will be motivation for our lads to go out in the captain's absence and play for him.

"Everyone will be behind him and be galvanised by what has happened to our captain. It's always a massive shock. When something happens to a healthy footballer it just shows you that illnesses like that don't distinguish."