DAVID BROOKS does not want to be picked by Wales on sentiment following a successful battle with cancer.
The Bournemouth winger had 18 months on the sidelines after his stage two Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis on Dragons duty in October 2021.
Brooks is back in Robert Page's Wales squad for the first time since his cancer fight ahead of tomorrow's (Fri) Euro 2024 qualifier against Armenia in Cardiff.
But the 25-year-old reckons he is back on the international stage on merit after six appearances for Bournemouth.
Brooks said: "I don’t want any sympathy.
"I don’t want anyone thinking, 'We'll give him a game here, or a game there, because he’s been through a lot and it will mean a lot to him.'
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"I don’t want any of that. I want it to be on merit and I believe that’s why I got two starts at the end of the year.
"I also believe that’s why I am here now. I don 't want to be called up just to be a spare part.
"I'm working hard to get back in the Bournemouth team and be starting for Wales as well."
Brooks won the last of his 21 caps against Denmark at the Euros two summers ago.
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Brooks added: "It's a very nice feeling to be back. The players have welcomed me with open arms.
"It's my first camp in two years so it will be a very special moment putting the Welsh shirt on again.
"I'm hoping it will be a nice reception if I can get some minutes."
Brooks took part in Wales' training camp in Portugal last week where he had an emotional reunion with team-mates – and saw Welsh medical chief Jonathan Houghton again.
The Cherries attacker asked Houghton for paracetamol to combat symptoms of weight loss and night sweats.
But it was Houghton's quick-thinking which saved Brooks as he was sent immediately for tests which revealed the illness.
Brooks added: "I do owe Jon the doc because he's done a lot for us. It's always nice to see him.
"Whenever my mum and dad see him they burst out crying and give him a big hug. There's a lot of respect there and I can't thank him enough.
"I just love playing football. It has been my life for 23 years and as soon as I got the diagnosis, that was snatched away in the blink of an eye.
"The awful news crushes your world.
"I didn't have a single care about football. I just wanted to still be on earth. The dark times were dark but the prognosis was positive.
When you have gone through a scare like that it puts life into perspective that football isn't life or death. The main thing is being happy and healthy.
"It was nice to get messages from my old coaches like Eddie Howe and Chris Wilder. Pagey texted me. They were all supportive."
Brooks was handed a new contract by Bournemouth last August until the summer of 2026 but the ex-Sheffield United star is still ambitious to play at the very top for club and country.
He said: "My outlook on life has changed a bit but football does mean a lot to me and my ambitions and drive haven’t changed.
"I still want to try and get to the very top.
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"I missed the World Cup so the aim is still to play in that and in the Champions League. I want to play at as high a level as possible.
"I am still as determined to achieve what I want to achieve in football."
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