O'Neill urges Petrov to pen new Villa deal

MARTIN O'Neill has urged Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov to sign a new contract – and believes the Bulgarian can have a major part to play in the club's future.

Petrov's four-year deal expires at the end of next season and he has held talks on extending his stay. O'Neill said: "If Stiliyan commits himself to a new contract, I'd be delighted. It is only just a year ago that people were concerning themselves about whether Stiliyan had a future here. But he has battled back, so much so that I'd like him to be around for the next couple of years."