claimed that the boo-boys at Vale Park inspired him to find the net. His form helped the club go from bottom of the league in December, to finish just six points shy of the play-offs. He was rewarded with a new deal with the club, despite having two years remaining on his existing contract. He scored three goals in 27 games during City's 2006–07 promotion-winning campaign. However, on his release from prison in September he found himself battling a catalogue of injuries, that would go on to plague him for a number of years. He missed the start of the campaign with hamstring and knee injuries, and picked up a further knee injury in April, which caused him to miss the club's pre-season tour of Latvia. He missed much of the 2007–08 season after being forced to undergo two knee operations. In January Brooker was made available for a loan spell so as to regain fitness, and twenty clubs put in offers. After recovering from illness and a further back injury, he joined Keith Downing's League One side Cheltenham Town on a one-month loan. This deal was later extended by another month. Playing fourteen games with the "Robins", he scored his five goals for the club in the space of six matches, helping the club to avoid relegation into League Two. His form persuaded manager Gary Johnson to re-call him to Bristol. On his return to City he scored an emotional late goal against Norwich to send his club top of the table; however the "Reds" would have to settle with a play-off place. Overall, he played just four games of the club's march to the play-off Final with Hull City, and was not named on the teamsheet in the final itself. Cheltenham were hopeful of signing the striker in the summer, but were denied the chance to have him back on loan, despite City having six strikers on the books. He started the 2008–09 season well by coming off the bench to get the late winners at Blackpool, Peterborough United, and Coventry City. However he was then struck down by an Achilles injury. On the November loan window deadline day, he joined Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan with a view to a permanent deal. He came on as a substitute for his Rovers debut against Watford and scored with his first touch to give his new team a