WALES boss Rob Page heaped praise on his medical staff for their part in identifying David Brooks's illness.

The Cherries star was away on international duty last month, when tests revealed he had developed stage two Hodgkin lymphoma, an uncommon type of cancer which spreads through the immune system.

The initial prognosis was positive and Brooks is now undergoing treatment.

Wales are back in action next weekend for the first time since news of Brooks's diagnosis was made public, hosting Belarus in a World Cup qualifier.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, having named his squad for both that game and the visit of Belgium three days later, Page explained how the Welsh FA medical staff identified the problem with the 24-year-old.

"I think when you've worked with a player for as long as the doc has, and Sean (Connelly) and myself, you know when they walk into camp, you can see slight differences," said Page.

"He just didn't look right in training. He wasn't himself.

"I can't speak highly enough of the medical team. I have done in the past and even more so now, because without that they wouldn't have identified it as quick as they did.

"So full credit has got to go to the doc and to Sean and this support they gave Brooksy straight after it. It was a difficult thing to hear and we will continue to support him through it.

"But the support he had that week and the work that they did was unbelievable."