DAVID Brooks has made another big step on his road to recovery, joining Cherries' first team for "modified" training sessions.

Brooks has not featured for Cherries since a 0-0 draw at Peterborough United in September 2021.

Shortly after that match, the Wales international was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare type of cancer, which develops in the immune system.

The 25-year-old has since made a full recovery, announcing he was cancer-free in May, and is edging ever closer to being back in a Cherries shirt.

Asked for an update on Brooks's fitness, boss Parker said: "David is pushing on really. He's now with the team, modified in terms of his training, but he's with us. He's no longer on his own.

"So now he's split between the two groups of being on his own and also being with us in a controlled environment. I'd like to think that maybe over the next week or 10 days, we can start pushing him into full training.

"And then from there try and get him up to a level and speed of participating at Premier League level really."