Register
Edit Account-Sign Out
My AccountSign Out
NationalWorldTV
BREAKING
10 hours ago New look Deal or No Deal returning on ITV without Noel Edmonds
4 hours ago Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds announce 2023 UK tour
5 hours ago Police searching for Madeleine McCann to get extra funding
8 hours ago Girl rushed to hospital after being attacked by dogs
9 hours ago Linda Nolan gives cancer update in heartbreaking GMB interview
10 hours ago Barclays to close a number of banks in the UK - full list

AFC Bournemouth boss makes David Brooks admission after ‘glorious’ moment at Aston Villa

Gary O’Neil made a David Brooks hint after the winger played for the first time in 18 months during the 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Charlie Haffenden
By Charlie Haffenden
Published 18th Mar 2023, 17:51 BST

It may have been a heavy defeat for AFC Bournemouth at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon but a moment with around a dozen minutes to go warmed the hearts of everyone – even the home support.

Cherries winger David Brooks, who had been sidelined for 18 months following a stage two Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, came on for his first appearance in 534 days to a round of applause from the entire crowd at Villa Park.

The Cherries’ survival hopes were severely dented with defeat as Villa charged into the top half for the first time in months, but there were still positives to take from the game, with Brooks’ return the biggest of all.

Most Popular

Bournemouth’s head coach was over the moon to see his winger back in action, with a hint made for some more game time to come. “I’m delighted for David. He’s been on a really tough journey with his family and he’s worked his socks off for a while,” Gary O’Neil said post-match.

“To arrive where he is at the moment, we need to be sensible with his minutes but he’s got two weeks of work [during the internationals] - some time with the under 21s - and then hopefully more minutes after the break,” O’Neil continued.

Brooks was delighted to see Bournemouth win 1-0 against Liverpool last week but he will likely be even happier on a personal note to play for the first time in 534 days.
Brooks was delighted to see Bournemouth win 1-0 against Liverpool last week but he will likely be even happier on a personal note to play for the first time in 534 days.
Brooks was delighted to see Bournemouth win 1-0 against Liverpool last week but he will likely be even happier on a personal note to play for the first time in 534 days.

Brooks established himself as one of the most promising young players in the Premier League a few years ago but his crushing diagnosis halted his development. Following extensive treatment and plenty of hard work, however, he is now back and raring to go.

Whether or not he will be able to start games this season awaits to be seen, but some minutes off the bench at Villa - regardless of the result - can only be seen as a positive. Both sides now have two weeks off before the Premier League returns at the start of April.

BournemouthPremier League