Southampton's David Brooks opens up on loan move and competition

The Welsh international joined on a four-month personal mission with the added goal of winning the club promotion to the Premier League. 

For Brooks, it was a chance to play a bigger role in something special ahead of a massive summer for his country.

In a slip of the tongue which he then corrected, Brooks labelled the two years he spent out of football due to cancer as "wasted". 

There is an element to Brooks that he is making up for lost time - but even then knows he has to earn his minutes here at Saints.

"I didn't expect to walk in here and be in the starting lineup week-in, week-out, but I have come here to play," Brooks told the Daily Echo.

David Brooks made an impact from the bench despite defeat to Hull City on Tuesday (Image: PA)

"I am not scared of a challenge and Adam Armstrong has done extremely well this season so far - hopefully that continues.

"We will need everyone in the team to pull their weight to get back into the Premier League. We have got enough good players."

"I am really enjoying it, the gaffer and my teammates have all been great so I can't complain," he added. 

"It does make it easier when you know people but the majority of the changing room speak English so you can speak to anyone. 

"Probably the first day or two I hung onto Joe Rothwell but I had five already knew I could grip onto, and then you meet everyone else." 

Manager Russell Martin had already called on the opinions of several Saints players who shared the dressing room with Brooks. 

Brooks broke through at Sheffield United with Che Adams in 2015, while Jack Stephens and Ryan Fraser were both Cherries teammates.

There were very few question marks over the 2018 Wales Footballer of the Year's playing pedigree - especially after a visit to Vitality Stadium. 

Martin was left concerned that Brooks would not be released by Bournemouth after the boss and his staff watched him plunder a goal and two assists against Swansea in January.

"After that game, I didn't really know what would happen as I was trying to put my name in the hat for Bournemouth," Brooks admitted. 

"Obviously, that didn't really develop and I had to look at my options - Saints was the best one." 

Brooks was convinced by conversations with Martin but also had a video call with a former boss - Saints director of football, Jason Wilcox.

David Brooks can play anywhere across a frontline and fill in as a 10 (Image: Stuart Martin)

Wilcox, who coached the Warrington-born Welshman in Man City's academy, decided to release Brooks in 2014. 

Now, he was asking Brooks to come and do him a favour - "I didn't let him forget that," Brooks quipped. 

"It was a bit of a running joke with him because the last conversation we had before that Facetime call was him releasing us," he said. 

"I think it worked out for all parties! I don't hold grudges and we had a good conversation - the same as Russell - and he sold me on the club.

"He told me about where they want to go and it matches my ambitions for the next four months so it was a perfect fit." 

Sadly, Brooks is accustomed to having to fight back when it all looks a little bit down. 

His Stage II Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis in 2021 was met with an outpouring of support down the road in Dorset. 

Just under two years later, he was celebrating scoring goals for Wales again. This interview looked to steer towards that comeback. 

"There was never any doubt creeping in, but you never know what was going to happen," Brooks reflected. 

"Through my treatment, I always thought I was going to get back to the top and play for my country and in the Premier League. 

"When you look back at it, it's a good achievement - but at the time, I knew I was capable of it so it wasn't like I was shocked.

"It was always my goal and always my aim. With the two years I did have out, it makes it a little bit more special." 

Next month, Wales host Finland in a match that was a big factor in Brooks deciding to pursue a loan move away from Bournemouth.

David Brooks is hoping to help his side qualify for this summer's EUROs (Image: PA)

It is European Championship qualifiers for Rob Page's side, with the winner playing off against Poland or Estonia to reach Germany.

"It was a massive factor. We've got extremely good attackers and Kieffer Moore was in a similar situation to me," Brooks explained. 

"We want to be as fit as possible for the big games and it's every kid's dream to go and play at the EUROs and it's no different for me. 

"When you look at the wingers and number 10s for Wales, I didn't want to be the only one turning up who is not 100 per cent ready to play." 

Fellow Bournemouth loanee Moore has joined the Championship promotion fight for the other side. 

The 31 year old has smashed four goals in his first five appearances for Ipswich Town - and will be a dangerous foe at Portman Road in April.

Brooks said: "I've been texting him a fair bit - we're in a battle now for second, but he is a fantastic striker and a huge threat in stature. 

"He has the finishing capabilities to go along with it so it's no surprise he's doing well." 

Brooks remains confident that Saints will wrestle back control of the promotion race and take the second spot by the start of May. 

He says he is happy to play "wherever" Martin wants him to aid with that, as long as he can "drift, create and score goals".

His spark will be needed with 13 huge matches to come, in which Saints visit all three of their promotion rivals. 

"I am very confident, we have a lot of talent in the squad and it is all going to be utilised in the next few weeks," Brooks said.

"We have the option of rotating and keeping everyone fresh so I think we have an extremely good chance and fancy ourselves."