Aston Villa's fit-again winger Stewart Downing says skipper Stiliyan Petrov has been a great support during his recovery.

The former Middlesbrough winger is finally closing in on his comeback from the fractured foot he suffered in an accidental clash with Petrov.

"To be fair to him he apologised to me straightaway," Downing told the Birmingham Mail.

"He was in constant contact with me, ringing me or texting me to see if I needed anything and to make sure everything was going to be alright.

"I told him: 'Funnily enough I'm coming to Villa. I might be there in a few weeks, so I'll speak to you then!'

"I don't hold any grudge or anything like that against him. It happens in football. You just get on with it.

"He said he'd see me down here and we'd have a chat and since then he's been spot on. He's a great lad and a great player."