MAGPIES’ player Jason Brookes can’t wait for pre-season to begin, but first he has a football tournament to attend to.

The Dorchester Town favourite is off to France to watch England versus Wales in the European Championships to cheer on best friend Sam Vokes.

Brookes was the Wales and Burnley striker’s best man at his wedding and now he’s heading across the Channel for Vokes’ first international tournament.

It’s been a busy summer for the player, as he’s also been across the pond to the USA, even managing to sneak in a MLS game – New York City vs Orlando – along the way.

But Brookes, having agreed a new deal last week to stay at the Avenue for another season, is happy to remain at the club and can’t wait for pre-season.

He told Echosport: “He (Mark Jermyn, Dorchester manager) has given me some things to work on and he said if I do that then there should be no problem.

“I think I’ve done that and I hope it means I can become a mainstay in the team.

“I’m bored of the summer now.

“I want to get back into it, I love my football and I want to play as much as I can.

“I can’t wait to get going again.

“I like the way we’re heading. Ben (Wood) is a good player with lots of experience and I think we need that to improve.”