The Welsh international missed the start of the season after dislocating his shoulder playing on loan for Southampton in last season's Championship Play Off Final at Wembley.
But, after not being in the squad at all for the first two games this term, then being an unused substitute for the next four, Brooks’ contribution has been gradually increasing over the previous weeks.
The 27-year-old started his first game of the season as Antoine Semenyo was suspended at Wolves, after he had netted his first goal of the season, a consolation against Brighton at home.
It was a well-taken goal, as he finished high into the net in stoppage time at home as Bournemouth sought a way back into the game, which they were trailing 2-0, Brooks’ goal only enough to get one back as the [Cherries](http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/) were beaten 2-1.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ And last weekend at Ipswich he nearly added to his goal tally in the dying minutes as the Cherries searched for a dramatic late winner – his shot saved into the path of Dango Ouattara who smashed home.
On how he feels his impact has increased on the side in recent weeks, Brooks told the Daily Echo: “I think just getting back playing has obviously helped.
“You can do all the training in the world, but that first sprint on a match day, your lungs still feel like they've collapsed.
“So there's nothing like playing on a Saturday and kind of getting used to other Premier League players that you don't train against every day, like the unpredictability of it, things like that.
“So, yeah, I think just it comes with playing more games, you obviously get more used to it and then, yeah, that's all I want.”
Asked if there was a slight twinge of disappointment in amongst the euphoria of the late Ouattara winner at Ipswich that it hadn’t been him finding the back of the net, Brooks laughed and said there hadn’t been.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ “To be fair, I didn't even see it go in because I was in a bit of a swizzle on the floor!” he said.
“I didn't really see it going in. But I think me and Dango are in very similar boats and he obviously wants to be playing and he got the assist and the goal there, so that should pick his mood up and, yeah, obviously help the team in the long run as well.”
The Cherries host West Ham on Monday night under the lights at Dean Court.
Previewing the game with the Hammers, Brooks said: “I think they're obviously a very, very good team.
“I don't think they've been getting the results they probably want over the season, but they've still got some extremely good players and they've obviously done very, very well over the past couple of seasons, so no one's really expecting an easy game here.
“We've had very tough games against them in the past, so I'm sure it'll be exactly the same.”
AFC Bournemouth face West Ham United in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium on Monday, December 16 at 8pm.
The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports for Monday night football.