THERE was a time not so long ago when Stiliyan Petrov didn't know whether he would see out the year.

That he did was down to his doctors, of course, and his own fighting spirit, but the battle wasn't over yet. Not by a stretch.

At Petrov's own charity game last year, with the affects of his many treatments for acute leukaemia still ravaging his body, the man known to all as Stan only managed a few minutes before he had to come off the Parkhead pitch in tears on what was an incredibly emotional afternoon in the east end of Glasgow, at the stadium where the popular Bulgarian left so many memories.

And now...well, now Petrov is healthy, happy and fit, or at least getting fitter. In the Jock Stein Charity Match on Sunday at East End Park, he played in the middle of the park and while he didn't bomb about quite as much as he used to, the fact he was there at all and playing some decent stuff was fantastic to see.

Petrov is one of life's good guys. You will not find anyone with a bad word to say about a genuinely decent and down to earth bloke who is a legend for both Celtic and Aston Villa.

He bounded over to speak to the press after the match, he played for an hour or so, with great enthusiasm. His smile was broad and you could tell he really enjoyed his run-out.

The fact he even managed to come back on after the Celtic Legends manager Murdo MacLeod took him off says everything about where he is now and how far he has come.

You can only wish him the very best with whatever he does.

Petrov said: "I have come a long way. I really enjoyed Sunday. I am getting a bit fitter so I can do a bit more running which makes it even more enjoyable.

"It was a great occasion, great to see the boys and the opposition as well, a lot of guys there who I played against, and the crowd was great.

“I have been training with the Villa under-21s a couple of times a week. I am getting fitter over that process. I have been working really hard over the last year and have lost a lot of weight I put on because of the treatment.

“I put 36 kilos so it’s really difficult. I’ve come from 120 to 92 now. So it’s great that I’m able to do more.

“I didn’t want to come off on Sunday. I’ll have a word with Murdo about that. It was good to get an hour. It was a great a great runabout in the sun. The surface was good as well. The last time I played at Dunfermline they had a plastic pitch!"

Neil Lennon said after the match that it had not taken long for the old team-mates to click again just as they did so often ten years ago.

The legs might not be as fresh as they were, but the minds haven't quite gone yet.

Petrov said: "Lenny started to enjoy it out there. We all did. I kept trying to do box-to-box runs but I wasn’t quite there. But it’s between so long since I’ve played that it was just good to be part of such a great occasion.

“We can’t to the things we used to so. I remember that we all used to say that the East End Park pitch looked small and within three strides you were there – it looked very big the other day, let’s put it at that.

“We met on Saturday night. The stories were flying around so it’s been great to get back together.”

So what next for Stan Petrov?

Obviously his health is by far the most important thing and his foundation, set-up to help others who find themselves where he was a few years ago takes up a lot of his time.

But it would be nice to think that such an intelligent guy could get a job somewhere in football. That day, however, is not going to be tomorrow.

Petrov said: "I was involved at Villa last season when Paul Lambert got sacked and Tim Sherwood took over. He invited me to come along so I was there for the last few months.

“He wanted me involved this season but I don’t think I’m ready to be committed to anything like that.

"I have been through a lot, my family has been through a lot, so while I am doing my coaching badges, I am working a lot on the foundation, we are trying to support a lot of people. I am quite busy.

“I have even taken up golf, something I said I would never do. I really enjoy my life at the moment. I am happy doing what I am doing. I do what I want to do and spend time with the family.”

And speaking of family, that is exactly how Petrov sees those who cheered him the loudest - although the Dunfermline fans gave him a great reception - on Sunday afternoon.

He said: "Celtic is a family. The supporters helped me when I was going through the toughest time of my life. When you are a player and playing for a club like this one with such a special support, you never forget it. It was such a special thing to be a part of.

“That’s why we all like to come back and play games like this. We miss the supporters.”

No half as much as they miss Petrov.