Ex-Saints forward David Brooks tipped for one final Top Flight shot as Bournemouth endure key attack force departures in Dango Ouattara and Luis Sinisterra.
Let's be honest, Saints fans, apart from routine matchday followings, checking on former club heroes remains a part of our day. But while a relishing activity often, hardly any supporter wouldn't have their eyebrows raised googling Che Adams' valuation recently.
Yet, that shows only a part of the story, the other side of which has been disheartening. And what better to illustrate it than when St. Mary's saw an ex-gaffer biting down a miserable season-opening defeat last week.
Well, Ruben Selles hasn't been the only example, with a former Saint enduring much tougher times than when he last bade bye to St. Mary's.
He's been ex-Saints loanee and Bournemouth squad member, David Brooks.
For context, while there have been enough differences between the Southampton and Bournemouth, being derby rivals, the two sides hardly differ on any discussion more than on Brooks' case. While for the Saints, he was one of their most impressive loan deals, Brooks has been nothing more than an injury-prone benchwarmer for the Cherries.
Brooks has one last chance to turn his Bournemouth spell around
Interestingly enough, for Brooks and his Saints fans, the 28-year-old has an opportunity windfall that could help him improve his image among Bournemouth supporters.
That's because of the Cherries' transfer hurdles that leave them without their star forwards, Dango Ouattara and Luis Sinisterra. And what was scheduled to be Brooks' last year on the Southern coast now has him gearing up for his best chance of succeeding at Bournemouth.
With Ouattara and Sinisterra no more adorning the Cherries' attack force, the mettle is bound to fall on an experienced squad name, in Brooks. Well, and should he repeat even a part of the potential he expressed in his Saints days, Brooks can make this season his most memorable one in a long time.
Undeniably, from being destined for a Championship move to being handed an opportunity of a lifetime, fate has done its part in Brooks' case. What now remains is to be seen whether the forgotten Premier League sensation can help himself rebuild a career again.
With Bournemouth kicking off the English Top Flight against Liverpool tonight, Brooks' comeback can begin today. Hopefully, it does with Saints fans singing another success story of their former stars.