CHERRIES star David Brooks admitted not being able to make his eagerly-anticipated Premier League comeback “put a bit of dampener on where I was at”.

The Wales international has not kicked a ball competitively this season, after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during a pre-season friendly at Brentford last July.

He had since undergone two operations and had been back in training with Eddie Howe’s squad for the business end of their top-flight campaign.

And after putting in the hard yards ahead of his return, Brooks’s chance has been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Warrington-born playmaker told talkSPORT: “The season ended abruptly and I was just starting to integrate back into the team.

“I was in and around training and trying to get up to match speed. It’s put a bit of a dampener on where I was at.

“I can’t train anymore. I can do a bit of running but I need to be getting back up to football levels.

“Kicking a football helps you get up to the standard before starting to play again – and I can’t really do that at the minute.”

Former Sheffield United star Brooks enjoyed a sublime breakthrough season with Cherries last campaign, scoring seven goals in 30 Premier League games.

He is set to be fit for Cherries’ final nine league fixtures, should the season be completed. All four of England’s top divisions have currently been suspended until at least April 30.

With Cherries 18th in the table and in the relegation zone, voiding the campaign could mean Eddie Howe’s men escape the drop.

Asked whether he would rather secure survival on the pitch with the Dorset club, Brooks replied: “Obviously the satisfaction levels would be there to do it in that way but I’m not against just staying up, to be honest.

“It’s one of those things. We are down there and it is a nervy time for the fans. The players are trying to keep positive and we are doing all we can to stay in the Premier League.

“Whatever way we can do it, players and the fans would take.”