DAVID BROOKS made an emotional Premier League return following his battle with cancer last season – but now the Bournemouth man feels ready to kick on for real.
The Wales international, 26, was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021 and returned to action in March this year after more than 500 days out.
Having been used sparingly by the Cherries towards the end of the last campaign, Brooks has impressed under new boss Andoi Iraola in pre-season, but revealed the two have not even discussed his cancer battle – which is just how he wants it.
Brooks told SunSport: "We haven't spoken about it.
"As bad as it sounds, I'm sure he'll have a bit of sympathy for the cancer side of it, but he has come in to do a job. I am here to do a job so it is not anything to be discussed.
"He wants the best XI out there on the first day of the season and I want to be in that XI.
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"It is not really anything to talk about or be discussed.
"Would I want a sympathy pick? No, not at all.
"I'd feel worse him putting me on and I don't think I'm ready and me playing awful if I thought I wasn't ready.
"I've been working hard to get into that XI and if I get in there I want it to be on merit."
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2Brooks has scored twice in three pre-season games so far this summer, grabbing one superb goal during the Cherries' trip to Marbella and a late winner against Southampton on Tuesday.
Having cleared the hurdle of a return for Bournemouth and Wales last season, Brooks is now focused on getting back to his game-changing best when West Ham visit on the opening day of the season.
But the former Sheffield United man knows there is still a long way to go.
He added: "Towards the end of last season I was just trying to get back and be involved in whatever kind of minutes I could but this season is different.
"I was just desperate to get back in a Bournemouth shirt and a Wales shirt.
"Now that is ticked off I am trying to get myself back in that starting XI and showing everyone what I can do.
"I wouldn't say back to normal. I haven't played over 60 minutes in near enough three years, it is not like I'm thinking I'll be playing 90 minutes against West Ham."
New boss Iraola is working to implement a new high-octane style of football on the south coast, and while his training has been demanding it is something Brooks is relishing.
He said: "It is different.
"Every gaffer I've had has been English based. It is a different regime and style of getting fit but I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
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"There is a lot of work with the ball.
"There are triple sessions but it's not going out and running around poles in a field so it's enjoyable."
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