DAVID Brooks says conversations with new boss Andoni Iraola have centred around football, not his cancer battle, as he set himself the goal of making the starting line-up for Cherries’ opening game of the season.

Brooks made an emotional return to action in March, 18 months on from being diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Wales international has made a full recovery and played a bit-part role for Cherries towards the end of last season.

He featured in six matches, starting the final two games of the campaign, playing 56 minutes of defeats to Manchester United and Everton.

Brooks has caught the eye under Iraola during pre-season, scoring twice in three matches, including the late winning strike at Southampton on Tuesday night.

Bournemouth Echo: David Brooks scored the winning goal for Cherries on Tuesday

Discussing how he has found the pre-season on a personal note, Brooks told the Daily Echo: “Towards the end of last season I was just trying to get back and try and be involved in whatever minutes I can.

“This season is different.

“I’ve been in the full pre-season and my aim is to start that first game of the season.

“I’m trying to put myself in the view of the gaffer and obviously two goals is quite nice in the three games.

“Hopefully I can get some more minutes and get some more goals in the next two.”

He later added: “I was just desperate to get back into a Bournemouth shirt and a Wales shirt.

“Now that’s ticked off, it’s trying to get myself back in that starting XI and showing everyone what I can do.”

Asked if things feel normal again for him now, after easing back into action towards the end of last season, Brooks said: “I wouldn’t say back to normal, I haven’t played over 60 minutes in near enough two years (September 2021), so it’s not like I’m thinking I’m going to be playing 90 minutes against West Ham.

“But I’m just trying to get as fit as possible and try and get match sharp to try and contribute in whatever way I can.”

For Brooks, and Iraola, the focus now is very much on the football.

Asked if he has discussed with the Spaniard his journey back to fitness over the past two years, Brooks explained: “We haven’t spoken about it.

“As bad as it sounds, I’m sure he’ll obviously have a bit of sympathy for the actual cancer side of it, but he’s come in to do a job, I’m here to do a job.

“It’s not anything to be discussed. He wants the best XI out there on the first day of the season, I want to be in that XI, so it’s not really anything to talk about or anything to kind of be discussed.

“I’ve had chats with the sports scientists to maybe manage load on occasions where I’m getting a bit tired and stuff like that. But I feel ready to push on and try and get in that XI.”

The 26-year-old added: “I worked tirelessly for six months, got injured and then I’ve been working throughout the off-season, so another six months when I got back to it.

“I’ve been working hard to get in that XI and if I get in there, I want it to be on merit.”