By David Williams

David Brooks has been told he can continue to play a huge part in Bournemouth’s stunning climb up the Premier League.

The Wales midfielder earned rave reviews for his superb winner that helped the Cherries beat Everton 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium at the weekend.

Brooks netted with an exquisite 77th minute volley to enable the Cherries to continue to defy expectations.

An unprecedented eighth consecutive Premier League match without defeat not only set a new club record but also lifted Bournemouth to seventh in the table, just three points off the top four.

The pivotal moment came courtesy of Brooks as the 27-year-old, introduced as a substitute, delivered a stunning strike to secure victory.

“That finish is the definition of clinical from David,” said Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

“Everyone in the club trusts David. I think in the last month he has started two games, he has come on from the bench all the other games, so he’s played more minutes lately because we have the injuries [to Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra] in his position. Everyone is fighting for minutes and it’s good for the team.”

David Brooks’ volley secured all three points for Bournemouth! #BOUEVE pic.twitter.com/m2wGZddlFt

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 4, 2025

Brooks’ form will also please Wales manager Craig Bellamy as he plots the start of Wales’ World Cup campaign.

That will begin at the Cardiff City Stadium against Kazakhstan on Saturday 22 March, followed by a journey to North Macedonia three days later.

Bellamy’s side will then face a double header in June at home to Liechtenstein (Friday 6) before facing the group’s top seeds, Belgium, away on Monday 9 June.

If Brooks helps Wales to another World Cup finals, it will cap a remarkable triumph for a player who missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar because of illness.

Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2021, Brooks faced a grueling battle off the pitch, but after successful treatment he received the all-clear midway through 2022 and made his return to professional football again in March 2023.

Since his return, Brooks has again become an integral part of the Cherries squad under Iraola, although he has mostly been used from off the bench this season.

✨ Satisfying goal by Bournemouth against Everton. David Brooks with the finish. pic.twitter.com/4e5kcxovXv

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 4, 2025

Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi said: “It was an absolutely beautiful goal from David, who is a very popular player.

The Cherries’ surge – and the dream of European football with the possibility of even a place in the Champions League – is exciting their fans.

Zabarnyi – part of a highly capable back four – insists Europe is realistic, but only if Bournemouth look forward, rather than at how far they have climbed.

“We can go higher, but we can also go lower,” said Zabarnyi.

“It’s just important to focus on the next game and to try and win every single game.

“It’s pretty early in the season, still. Anything can still happen. So we will see.”

Bournemouth are the best proof that a well-run, well-funded, shrewdly-managed, skillfully-coached club can rise way above their status.

They could have won by four or five goals with better finishing and if Jordan Pickford had not been so inspired in Everton’s goal, and they have now gone a club record eight Premier League games unbeaten.

“For sure, it’s an amazing run, but I’m not totally surprised,” added Zabarnyi.

“I knew what we were capable of from last season. I saw how we can play and how we can be. This is what I expected because I knew how good this team could be.

“But we need to focus on the next games. The manager has us in a good spot now and I think we will continue.”

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