EDDIE Howe says he avoids getting “too close” to his fellow Premier League bosses because he is “not trying to be their friend”.

There has long been a tradition of managers lending each other an empathetic ear, given the cut-throat nature of the job.

But Howe believes keeping a respectful distance from his rivals is the best approach, when his ultimate goal is to get one over on them every weekend.

“I wouldn’t say I would pick up the phone to any Premier League manager,” said Howe. “I don’t look to do that. I'm competing against these guys, I'm not trying to be their friend.

“I respect every single Premier League manager, it is such a difficult job.

"But I am looking to beat them so I wouldn’t want to be too close to them – and I don’t think they would want to be too close to me. It is a very competitive environment.”

Howe will pit his wits against one of the best in the business when Cherries travel to Tottenham on Saturday (12.30pm).

The Londoners’ Argentine boss Mauricio Pochettino has transformed Spurs into one of the country’s most exciting teams since he joined the club from Southampton three years ago.

Tottenham are second in the Premier League table and have won their past 11 home games in the competition.

“Of course I respect him,” said Howe. “He has done an outstanding job. It isn’t just the results he has achieved, it is his style of play and the way he conducts himself.

“He is a level-headed guy who concentrates on improving players. I have a lot of respect for anyone who devotes their life to that.”

Spurs have scored their goals at a rate of three per game during their winning home run.

They have a glut of players operating at the peak of their powers and 19-goal striker Harry Kane is fit to feature five weeks after he injured his ankle in an FA Cup tie against Millwall.

Howe, then, accepts a trip to White Hart Lane represents the toughest proposition of his campaign – but he is buoyed by Cherries’ recent successes on the road.

He said: “They probably do present the biggest challenge in the Premier League. If you look at their recent record, it will be really tough examination for us.

“But we can fall back on the games we have played recently, the matches at Liverpool (2-2) and Southampton (0-0) – and you probably couldn’t have a tougher test than playing at Manchester United (1-1) with 10 men for 45 minutes.

“We aim to win, regardless of who we play or where we play.

“That is how we prepare. We don’t prepare to draw, we prepare to win.”

Junior Stanislas and Dan Gosling both sat out Cherries’ past two matches, against Liverpool and league leaders Chelsea.

Winger Stanislas is fit to return in north London but Gosling continues to nurse a dead leg and is unlikely to be risked.