FOR so long central defensive partners, Ian Cox and his 'apprentice' Eddie Howe will be at opposite ends of the pitch tomorrow.

England under-21 international Howe came through the ranks at Dean Court and made his Bournemouth debut as a teenager in the same season as Cox arrived at the club from Crystal Palace.

While Cox became a virtual ever-present before moving to Burnley for £500,000 a week ago, Howe established himself in the side a couple of seasons later in the 1997/98 campaign.

Alongside the more experienced Cox, Howe never looked back and emerged as one of the Second Division's brightest prospects in tandem with Burnley's recent buy.

That was recognised with two England under-21 caps and last season the 22-year-old missed just one game as he and Cox provided the defensive base that took Bournemouth to the brink of the play-offs.

This season hasn't been so productive with a knee ligament injury keeping Howe out for the best part of four months before he returned in a 2-1 win at Luton last Saturday.

Against the Clarets tomorrow he will again partner on-loan Manchester United youngster John O'Shea and following Cox's move to the Clarets has suddenly become the senior partner.

The evidence suggests he can handle that, although he will face a through examination by from Andy Payton and Andy Cooke. Cox has been more prolific in each area of the game according to the statistics from Opta but that reflects the extra number of games he has played.

What the figures do confirm, however, is that Howe is comfortable on the ball whether tidying up at the back or turning defence into attack.

Not big in stature he wins his share of tackles and how he copes without Cox alongside him tomorrow will be crucial to Bournemouth's prospects of checking Burnley's promotion push.

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