Brooks has been a standout for Bournemouth so far this campaign, playing well away at both Anfield against Liverpool and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Spurs.
He was good in the Cherries’ preseason friendlies and has carried that form into the start of the season.
His form is particularly impressive after his recovery from Hodgkin Lymphoma, after his October 2021 diagnosis and the all-clear in May 2022.
Asked about Brooks’ current form and his development under Iraola, the boss said: “I’ve treated him like someone without any issues and he had a big issue obviously before I arrived here.
“But I haven't been more soft with him because of this and he has accepted the challenge and sometimes he has played less, especially at the beginning with me and he had to go also a period on loan to the Championship to Southampton.
“But every month he has become stronger and stronger and now he has done a very good preseason.
“I think in the preseason games he was one of the best players.
“He's fighting for the starting spot, he's having good performances and I'm very happy with him.
“And I think he mentally has also taken these challenges very well.
“Because he's a very good player and when you are not playing the minutes you want, sometimes you can [lose focus]. No, he has kept grinding and I'm happy now that now he's on such a good level.”