SHARP-SHOOTER Charlie Austin thanked Eddie Howe for his chance at Championship level – but insisted there was no room for sentiment in tonight’s head-to-head.

Cherries boss Howe will be reunited with the hotshot he signed for Burnley in 2011 when the Dean Court outfit travel to Austin’s new club QPR (7.45pm).

Howe handed Austin – then at Poole Town – a trial at Cherries in 2009 but saw his swoop scuppered by a transfer embargo.

Swindon snapped up the striker before Howe took him to Turf Moor where 45 goals in 90 matches sealed a reported £4million move to Loftus Road in August.

The Hoops, clear favourites to win the second tier, are flying high, largely due to Austin’s eight goals in 17 league appearances.

And while the former bricklayer lauded the influence of both Howe and assistant boss Jason Tindall on his goal-laden career, the 24-year-old vowed to show no mercy when Cherries come to town.

Austin told the Daily Echo: “Eddie Howe gave me my chance at Bournemouth. He got my fitness up to the standard Football League clubs expect and through their pre-season I got fitter and stronger and ended up at Swindon.

“Luckily, I was able to hook up with him again at Burnley and I would thank him for taking me there and giving my chance at Championship level.

“Being a young manager his passion for the game always comes across. He just knows how to get the best out of you and constantly works on a lot of things with different players.

“He also has a great assistant-manager there in Jason Tindall who was brilliant for me at Burnley.

“Jason goes unnoticed sometimes.

“It will be nice to see them both at the start but after that, it’s all about getting the job done for QPR.”

But despite plotting their downfall, Austin reckons Cherries will soon recover from a run of one win in 10 league matches with a man like Howe at the helm.

On Cherries’ season so far, Austin added: “Eddie knows what this league is all about from his time at Burnley, even if the two clubs might be in different circumstances.

“He is a good manager and knows what to do. They have picked up some good results and will find their form.”