With just four months to go before Wales take on Switzerland in their opening encounter of the Euro 2020 finals tournament, manager Ryan Giggs has been buoyed by the prospect of a fresh and fired up David Brooks being available for the clash in Baku after a season blighted by injury.

Following two operations on his ankle, the Bournemouth winger is expected to return to full training next month although he is unlikely to be ready for the Welsh friendlies against Austria in Swansea on Friday, 27 March, and the US in Cardiff on Monday, 30 March.

“With Brooksy he’s looking to be back training in March, so the games will probably come too quickly,” said Giggs. “He’s been a big miss because he’s great to have around the place with his personality and he’s such a talented player.”

Brooks has missed all of the Premier League season so far and the second half of Wales’ successful Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, when a 2-0 victory against Hungary at Cardiff City Stadium in November sealed their place in the finals.

The 22-year-old was expected to be out for 12 weeks after surgery for the initial injury suffered in a friendly last July, but required a second operation in Qatar in December.

Several other members of Giggs’ likely Euro finals squad have also had significant downtime this season because of injury, including Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Rodon and Jonny Williams.

Wales begin their campaign in Baku against the Swiss on 13 June, seeking to emulate the Euro 2016 campaign when they lost to champions Portugal in the semi-finals under Chris Coleman.

Giggs’s side stay in Azerbaijan to play Turkey on 17 June, before finishing the group stages against Italy on 21 June in Rome.

The top two teams from the six Euro 2020 groups, plus four of the six third-placed sides will advance to the knockout round of 16.

Giggs is happy with the way their fixtures have fallen, with Wales not facing group favourites Italy until their final game. His side are also familiar with playing in Baku, having regularly been drawn against Azerbaijan in tournaments and securing a 2-0 win there in the Euro 2029 qualifying campaign.

Euro 2020 Qualifying Campaign
Group E
Wales 1 Slovakia 0
Croatia 2 Wales 1
Hungary 1 Wales 0
Wales 2 Azerbaijan 1
Slovakia 1 Wales 1
Wales 1 Croatia 1
Azerbaijan 0 Wales 2
Wales 2 Hungary 0