FRIENDS may be reunited at Dean Court tomorrow but Cardiff boss Russell Slade has vowed there will be no old pals act with Cherries counterpart Eddie Howe.

The bosses both have their eyes on the promotion places and Slade knows his side face a battle.

Third-placed Cherries are six places and six points ahead of Cardiff and Slade said: “I know Eddie really well and he is a really good friend of mine.

“I’ve known him for an awfully long time. He has Bournemouth well organised and they will be a tough nut to crack.

“He has a great squad, a terrific group of players. Howe sets his team up in a flexible 4-4-2 similar to ourselves.

“I chat to him every week, if not every other week. We talk about football and players in the main. We get on exceptionally well and he would be classed as a friend.

“On Saturday we will both do everything we can to win, of course, and he will know how badly I want Cardiff to come out on top.

“Whoever wins, whoever loses, we will spend 10 minutes or more chatting to each other. That’s important no matter who you play. It doesn’t always happen, but I’m sure it will at Bournemouth.”

“There is, though, no doubt in my mind Eddie could be a Premier League manager in the future. He has already done quite a few managerial miles and he is an outstanding prospect.”