BROOKS ON RIGHT PAGE
CANCER BATTLE HERO’S WALES BOOST Boss wants star at training camp
DAVID BROOKS has been invited to link up with Wales’ squad tomorrow after declaring himself cancer free as boss Rob Page dangles a potential World Cup carrot.
The 24-year-old was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma last October and has not played for Bournemouth since the shock news.
At the time of his diagnosis, Brooks thanked Wales’ medical team, whose “swift attention” had helped detect the illness while he was on international duty for their World Cup qualifiers.
Brooks, who has been capped 21 times, has now been invited to continue his rehabilitation with Wales this week at their Portugal training camp in the Algarve as they prepare for their World Cup play-off final on June 5.
Wales boss Page said of the winger: “I have spoken to him.
“It is great news, first and foremost, fantastic that he has been given the all clear.
“I have invited him on the camp on Monday. I have left it up to him whether he wants to come.
“He is not going to come and train of course.
“We are sympathetic with Bournemouth and will build him up to that position to get back to playing again.
“We’ve invited him back to be with his mates and just get him away to be refreshing for him.” Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, an important part of the immune system.
But Brooks has bounced back from the ordeal and can look forward to the Cherries being back in the Premier League next season after promotion and also potentially playing for Wales at Qatar in November.
Wales are waiting to learn who they will face in Cardiff from the winners of the play-off between Scotland and Ukraine on Wednesday, June 1.
Page hopes the prospect of playing in the finals helps winger Brooks with his recovery after he previously played three times last summer at the delayed Euro 2020. Page added: “Would we want him part of the World Cup
squad? Absolutely, he’s a talented player.
“Dangling that carrot and incentive is great
motivation for him. We have had those conversations already – even months ago when he was diagnosed – the bigger picture was, all being well, to do this and his doctor was top class with it all.
“We spoke to specialists involved and they told us what the pattern has been with recent cases.”
Wales, looking to reach their first World Cup since 1958, have a busy international break with games against Poland on June 1 in the Nations League before their play-off final and then further matches versus Holland, either side of a home clash with Belgium.
Page expects to name a weakened side against Poland to keep his main stars fresh for their play-off final.