Undersized Brooks has big dreams
DAVID BROOKS saw a dream shattered at Manchester City but will fulfil another against Jose Mourinho’s United today.
The 21-year-old, brought to Bournemouth by Eddie Howe for £11.5million from Sheffield United in the summer, has looked right at home in the Premier League.
Brooks was born in Warrington and grew up a United fan. Now a Wales international after choosing the country of his mother’s birth over England, he came through age-group football constantly told he was too small and too skinny.
The shirts came down to his knees and kitmen were sent scurrying away to seek out smaller sizes. “I have only shot up recently – I was tiny,” he said.
That was the case during a decade spent in the City academy before Brooks joined Sheffield United.
But after being thrown into the first-team frame at Bramall Lane after a loan spell at non-league Halifax, Brooks’ progress has been rapid.
The winger blossomed for England and was named the best player at the Toulon Tournament in 2017, presaging a move to the south coast where he has shone in the top flight this term.
Brooks, with three goals in his last four league games, said: “I have always been a United fan and wanted to play them, so I was looking out for this game.
“I was at City for 10 years. There wasn’t all the big money being spent until I got to Under-16s. But soon after I turned up to an awards ceremony and there were about seven players I had never seen before.
“They were all foreign lads playing international football, and physically stronger. There ended up being a squad of 25 or 30 players at Under-18 level.
“As a young lad you need to be playing. I just wasn’t so the writing was on the wall. There’s a few players that got kept on at that time who haven’t done as well as those that got released.
“Maybe it does give you that extra incentive that you really want this.
“I didn’t leave on the best terms – it was one of them ‘go and sort yourself out’ – and there were a few tears. Bolton then said I was too small, but Sheffield United saw past that.”
Dreams may have been shattered early on but by the time JOSE MOURINHO has urged Manchester United to secure the long-term future of Anthony Martial.
The Frenchman is playing hardball with United in the final 12 months of his contract after turning down a new deal and insisting on bigger wages.
Mourinho has endured a difficult relationship with Martial, above, since taking charge and has been willing to sell him to the highest bidder on several occasions. But United have refused to the Toulon glass vase trophy was dropped and smashed into a million pieces at the airport, a corner had already been turned.
England might now feel he was one who got away. Brooks said little effort was made to change his mind but insisted it was always the plan to play for Wales if the call came.
He said: “It was a bit of a mix-up that saw me play for England in Toulon. They asked and I didn’t feel I could turn the chance down. I honoured the obligation.
“I think Wales also included me but hadn’t told me. Thankfully it didn’t put them off. “There are pictures of me in that England shirt all over social media. At the time Toulon was the right decision for me, and thankfully Wales didn’t turn their back.” Brooks made his senior debut for Wales last November and, after Howe swooped, has caught the eye.
“You always back your own ability, but to start the first game of the season here was a bit of a shock. The manager has showed faith in me with that and since,” he said.
“But there will be times when I am not in the team, and I’ll need to deal with it.
“A big thing coming here was that Bournemouth want the ball on the grass – it was the best fit as I am not the most physical. The manager said he would improve me and he has delivered.” agree and now Mourinho has changed his mind and admitted Martial is crucial to his plans. “I hope they will agree,” he said. “He’s a talented player with consistency and understanding. “When you reach that level, or when you are almost at that level, is when you become a top player. He is now much closer to being a top player. “Obviously I would like him to stay. I know the club want that very much.” Mourinho has also backed Marcus Rashford to come through his goal drought, despite admitting the England striker faces unfair pressure because of what he has achieved at the age of just 21.
Rashford has scored once in his last eight outings for club and country but Mourinho said: “He has played in the national team, in the World Cup, the Europa League final and in two FA Cup finals. He’s having incredible chances in which to develop.”