Sheffield United and Wales star David Brooks says it was always his intention to play for the land of his mother, despite starring for England in last year’s Toulon Under 20s tournament.
Brooks is in line part of Ryan Giggs’ first senior squad when the new manager names his squad on Thursday for the forthcoming China Cup, where Wales will play two matches.
Only six months before making his senior international debut for Wales against France last November, 20-year-old Warrington-born winger Brooks was on international duty for the Three Lions, picking up the Best Player award and making the team of the tournament as England went on to win the competition.
Brooks, who qualifies for Wales through his mother, who is from Llangollen, had also been included in the Welsh squad for the same tournament but was unaware of the interest, and remained with England.
However, in August 2017, when Wales Under 21 manager Rob Page called him up to the squad for the European Championship qualifiers, Brooks switched allegiance to Wales and has not looked back since.
Speaking to S4C football series Mwy o Sgorio, Brooks said: “When the squads got announced, I was in both. But I hadn’t been aware that I’d actually been called up for Wales. It was a bit of a funny situation. Obviously, I had to go away with England, and we did well, and I played well.
“But it was always my ambition to go on and play for Wales, and thankfully they didn’t change their minds after it (Toulon).
“I went away next time with Wales (Under 21s, in the European Championship qualifiers), and played against Switzerland and Portugal, and then I got the call-up to the first team which was nice.”
After scoring against the Swiss on his Wales Under 21 debut, Brooks was called up to the senior squad by then Wales manager Chris Coleman. He made his debut at the Stade de France, coming on as a second-half substitute to face the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe. On his second Wales appearance against Panama a few days later in Cardiff, Brooks was named man of the match.
He added: “For club and country, 2017 was a really good year for me. It was filled with a lot of special memories for me and my family and, hopefully, I’ll get more years like that.
“On a personal level, to be in the minority of getting to play for your country and the stage it was on in France, and with my mum, my dad, my family all from Wales, all coming down supporting in Paris, it was probably the most special memory I’ve got.
Panama was another special one for me, the first one in front of the home fans. It was a good game.
“It was sad to see Chris Coleman go, but I’m looking forward to the future and seeing what that holds.
“I’m a big Manchester United fan so I’m a big fan of Ryan Giggs. He was a great player and a Manchester United legend, so hopefully I’ll get to play under him and take some pointers.”
Watch the whole interview on Mwy o Sgorio, at 6.30pm on Wednesday evening, on Sgorio, or on demand at s4c.cymru.
