Villa's Stiliyan Petrov targets Birmingham derby return

Petrov joined Villa from Celtic for �6.5m in August 2006

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov is hoping to make his first-team return from a knee injury in the derby clash with Birmingham City on 16 January.

The Bulgarian, 31, has not played since suffering the problem in the defeat at Sunderland in October.

After stepping up his rehabilitation work, he now hopes to return to full training in the next couple of weeks.

"With a bit of luck, I will be back for the derby away at Birmingham in mid-January," he said.

"It has been a painful experience for me. Throughout my career, I've never missed too many games through injury and it's not something I've enjoyed.

"I just have to be patient for a little longer but my knee is now well and truly on the mend.

I aim to be pushing for a recall within 10 days or maybe a couple of weeks of returning to training

Stiliyan Petrov

"I've really stepped up my work rate recently and I'm looking to be back in training within the next couple of weeks.

"Then I aim to be pushing for a recall within 10 days or maybe a couple of weeks of returning to training."

Petrov's injury has been compounded by fellow midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell also enduring lengthy lay-offs.

That has forced boss Gerard Houllier to blood youngsters Ciaran Clark, Barry Bannan and Jonathan Hogg, although Reo-Coker returned as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 win over West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park.