David Brooks was only 24 when he was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma which kept him out of the game for 18 months, but happily he overcame this huge setback to make a successful return to playing in March 2023. He had been recognised as one of the outstanding young attacking players in the country before his illness and Bournemouth considered the £11m it had cost them money well spent. He found it hard to regain a place in the Cherries Premier League team so a loan move to Saints in January 2024 made sense to give him more minutes on the pitch and he played his part in the subsequent promotion. He was in the starting line-up for the play-off final at Wembley vs Leeds but injured a shoulder in the first half and left the pitch in tears, albeit he was smiling later when the players paraded the play-off trophy.