DAVID Brooks is set to join Cherries’ Championship neighbours Southampton on loan until the end of the season, the Daily Echo understands.

Cherries were reluctant to let the Welsh international go, but understood that Brooks is keen for regular gametime with crucial play-off qualifiers with his country for this summer’s Euros in March.

Southampton hope that Brooks will be the difference in a tight promotion race in the second tier, with Saints currently sitting third, a point off the automatic spots.

Brooks becomes the second Cherry of the window to make the switch, joining Joe Rothwell on loan at St Mary’s until the end of the campaign.

So far this term the 26-year-old has made a total of 18 appearances, 12 of which have come off the bench.

Brooks has started just one Premier League game under Andoni Iraola since the first fixture of the season against West Ham.

Cherries will be looking for a replacement in the closing days of the window.

Asked by the Daily Echo about fringe players, Iraola stated: “We have squads now even bigger than before with 27, 28, 29 players.

“At the end, I start 11. So more than half of the players don’t start the games.

“You need 25, 26, 27 and everyone has to not accept their role, but try to fight in a proper way, try to take his chances. I think everyone here has been quite professional.

“That is also one of the reasons why when the market opens, we have to listen to the players, because they have been respectful, they have been training really well, they have been playing when we need them and I think it is the way it should be.”