David Brooks makes ’emotional’ Wales return on Portugal training camp

ROBERT PAGE reckons the 'emotional' return of David Brooks can fuel Wales closer to Euro 2024 qualification.

The Bournemouth winger, 25, linked up with the Dragons on Thursday for the first time since his cancer recovery.

Brooks was on Wales duty in October 2021 when quick-thinking medical staff sent him for tests which revealed he had stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.

Page's squad including Brooks join up in Portugal for a warm-weather training camp before this month's double-header against Armenia and Turkey.

Page said: "It will be an emotional camp but in a positive way. We are meeting with the players in Portugal.

"He will be welcomed back in and then we get on with work as usual. We won't dwell on it too much."

Brooks is a popular member of the Welsh squad, coming through the ranks alongside close pal Chris Mepham, 25, Dan James, 25 and 26-year-old Harry Wilson.

He won the last of his 21 international caps in the Euro 2020 last-16 4-0 hammering by Denmark in Amsterdam two summers ago.

Page added: "He's a big character in the dressing room. They are a tight-knit group.

"On the first day he comes into camp there's no doubt the players will have a moment together themselves."

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Wales return back to Cardiff from their Portugal base near Lagos next Tuesday.

Page's side host Armenia in Group D on Friday, June 16.

Then the Welsh travel to the Turkish city of Samsun three days later.