David Brooks picked up two major titles at the prestigious FAW Player of the Year Awards last night, but still doesn’t know if he will be fit enough to play in Sunday’s European qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff.
The 21-year-old Bournemouth star picked up the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards to crown a year in which he burst onto the international and Premier League stages.
But now the race is on for Ryan Giggs’ medical team to get him fit to face the Slovakians this weekend in Wales’ opening Group E fixture. Slovakia kicked-off their campaign with a 2-0 home win over Hungary on Thursday.
“I’m hoping to play, but it’s up to the gaffer (Ryan Giggs) to make the judgement call. I still got a bit of bruising on my ankle,” said Brooks.
“You have to stay positive and I’m just hoping the swelling goes down in time. It happened against Newcastle last weekend in a tackle by Mohamed Diamé.”
Brooks was one of many front line Welsh players who sat out Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in Wrexham. But he is also likely to be one of the first names on Giggs’ team sheet if fit.
With back-to-back away games in Croatia and then Hungary in the space of four days in June, Sunday’s game is vital if Wales are to push for a return to the final stages of the Euros following their outstanding success in 2016 in France.
Brooks watched that tournament on TV at his home in Warrington. Now he wants to be a part of another positive campaign.
“It has been a big season for me making the transition into the Premier League and playing for Wales. I still look up to some of the other players in the Welsh squad – I learn from them and I try to absorb what they do and know,” added Brooks.
“It’s not a question of being star-struck, but it is great being around them. Every young boy wants to play in the Premier League and at the highest possible level and so I guess you could say I’m living the dream.
“I came into the last qualification campaign near the end and I can’t wait to get started at the beginning of this one. Home form is going to be massive because it is going to be an extremely competitive group and we have to go into Sunday with the mind-set we can win.
“I don’t see myself as an established player in the Welsh set-up, I just want to go into the game and try to make my mark. The last Euro campaign went phenomenally well and the young boys coming in want a taste of that.”
Other winners on the night at Hensol Castle were Wales’ most capped player, Jess Fishlock, who was voted the Women’s Player of the Year.
Elise Hughes, whose performances have been pivotal at intermediate and senior level, also earned the accolade of Young Player of the Year.
The Women’s captain, Sophie Ingle and Gareth Bale both won Players’ Player of the Year, while the Media Choice Award went to Ben Davies.
There was also a special award to John Toshack for his lifetime of service to Welsh football.