#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes David Brooks will be huge for Bournemouth #AFCB

BOSS Gary O’Neil believes the return of David Brooks will be “huge” for Cherries, but insisted: “We haven’t put a timeframe on it.” Brooks has not featured competitively for Cherries since a 0-0 draw at Peterborough United in the Championship in September 2021. Shortly afterwards, the Wales international was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma and underwent a lengthy course of treatment. Brooks then announced in May of this year that he had been given the all clear and was cancer free. The 25-year-old then returned to the training pitches during pre-season following the club’s promotion to the Premier League and looked to be edging closer to first-team action, starting in a friendly for the development squad at Brentford in August. However, he did not last long, forced to withdraw due to a hamstring complaint, something he is still recovering from. Brooks has travelled with the rest of the Cherries squad to Dubai for a mid-season warm weather training camp, with the first team due back in action on December 21, following the World Cup break. He is working on an individual programme away from the main group, alongside fellow injured due Lloyd Kelly and Neto. Brooks was also pictured supporting Wales during one of their World Cup matches in Qatar last month. Asked if he can see Brooks being back available to be in the Cherries team after the World Cup break, O’Neil said: “David Brooks is coming along really well. “We haven’t put a timeframe on it, because we have a break in the middle (of the season) that allows people time to assess. “It’s a unique situation this season obviously, with a mini break and a mini pre-season type situation in the middle of it. “So that will give everybody with longer-term injuries or niggles a chance to really recover and make sure they’re in prime condition when we come back. “The thought of David Brooks is just, let’s see where we are after the break, see how he does, see how he comes along and take it step by step.” O’Neil added: “I’d love David Brooks in the team. I think he’ll be huge for us. “But we obviously need to remember that he’s been off the pitch for a very long time. “David Brooks’s health and wellbeing is of the utmost importance.” Since joining Cherries from Sheffield United in the summer of 2018, Brooks has made 90 appearances, scoring 17 goals.