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BOURNEMOUTH starlet David Brooks is seeking inspiration from Wales icons Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale to become a Premier League star.
Brooks grew up worshiping Giggs and now plays under the Manchester United hero for his country.
The £11m summer signing from Sheffield United is also eager to call upon international team-mate Gareth Bale for top tips.
Brooks, 21, has won three caps for Wales and said: “When you look at Ryan Giggs, he’s a massive legend within football and Manchester United.
“I grew up a Man United fan so he was always someone I looked up to – and now I get the pleasure to work with him.
“When you are away with him you take in all you can learn because he has been there and done that. You look up to him, you take all the advice he gives and try and implement it into your game.
Style
“I’m an attacking player. I like to get fans off their seats and try and be creative in the final third of the pitch with assists or goals.
“One of the reasons I came to Bournemouth was because they play attractive football – they play good football and try and get it on the deck and pass it round.
“It was the perfect fit for me to come here and hopefully I can kick on with my career now.”
It is still early days in Brooks’ development but his playing style has already been likened to Real Madrid ace Bale.
Brooks said: “I have been away with Bale and been at training camps and things like that. You want to learn and take notes off him.
“When you look at his progress, he went from Southampton to Tottenham and then on to Real Madrid.
“Every footballer will want to make that transition. You just have to look at his journey, take ®Êby ALEX CROOK
notes from it and try to do similar comparisons. “You want to play at the highest level possible and that is the Champions League, the World Cup and things like that. You want to do that wherever you may be.”
Brooks’ rise has been so meteoric that this time two years ago he was lining up on loan for non-league minnows Halifax in the National League.
He was not expected to feature much for Bournemouth this season following his switch from Bramall Lane in July but already seems to have nailed down a place in Eddie Howe’s starting side.
Brooks is aiming to help the Cherries maintain their 100 per cent start to the season at home to Everton today – and catch the eye of idol Giggs in the process.
With the new UEFA Nations competition looming next month, Brooks added: “My aim is to try and get a place in the Wales team. “You have to take it one step at a time so hopefully I can get the call up and show him what I can do in the next international break. “I have come to play football and I just want to help the team as much as possible. There is room for improvement. I know that.”
Brooks, whose mum is Welsh, represented England at last summer’s Toulon tournament but the Warrington-born wideman says his desire was always to play for Wales.
He said: “I did play for England last summer but, before then, I had expressed my interest to play for Wales.
“There was a mix-up and after the Toulon Tournament I still wanted to play for Wales. “Thankfully they gave me the opportunity. When I meet up with the team they all push in the same direction and I want to be a part of it.”