ANDONI Iraola believes David Brooks had a “very, very good” pre-season, but admitted it is “tough” to choose who to select on the wings.

Brooks netted three times in five appearances during the summer and achieved his goal of starting the opening game of the Premier League campaign.

The Wales international looked a threat in that 1-1 draw against West Ham United, coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

But he dropped to the bench for Saturday’s loss at Liverpool with Antoine Semenyo preferred, before being introduced during the second half.

The 75 minutes Brooks played against the Hammers was his longest runout in a competitive fixture since August 2021, after battling back from cancer and then suffering a hamstring injury upon his return.

Asked for his assessment of the 26-year-old since taking over as boss, Iraola said: “Brooks has been very, very good in pre-season.

“In the training and friendlies we’ve played, I think he has scored some goals. (Against West Ham) was not easy for him, a lot physical duels.

“He struggled at the beginning of the game. As the game went on, I think he improved a lot.

“He had two or three good chances. He has a very, very good left foot. But he didn’t finish well.

“But overall I was happy with the pre-season, with the friendly games and he is pushing hard to compete.

“It is a position where we have a lot of competition there, because even without Dango (Ouattara) and (Marcus) Tavernier, I think we have a lot of chances there.

“So it is going to be tough for me to decide during the season, but it is good news for the team I think.”