Reading vs Crystal Palace - Brian McDermott: I owe my managerial career to Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew

Reading boss Brian McDermott admits he owes his managerial career to Crystal Palace counterpart Alan Pardew.

McDermott's Royals side come up against Pardew's Palace on Friday night for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Yet in 2000 it was Pardew, then manager of Reading, who handed McDermott his big break after a chance meeting at a reserve game.

And McDermott claims he would never have become a Premier League boss - having guided Reading to promotion during his first stint in charge - were it not for the man he now sees as a good friend taking a chance on him.

"We were at Brentford watching a reserve match and got chatting," revealed the 54-year-old former Arsenal midfielder.

"We had a good chat and then a few months later he rang me. He made me under-17 coach and chief scout so he must have seen something in me. I'll always be grateful.

"We are definitely friends. He's a great guy and if it wasn't for him - and he'll probably tell you himself - I wouldn't be here now."

As a rookie manager Pardew led Reading into the Championship and, according to the current boss, laid the foundations for subsequent promotions to the top flight under Steve Coppell and then McDermott.

However, he tends to receive a frosty reception at the Madejski Stadium following his drawn out and acrimonious departure to West Ham in 2003.

"That's football," added McDermott. "All I know is that he did a great job at Reading and he's a good friend of mine.

"He put a team together that Steve Coppell carried on, he brought us to where we are now and what we are trying to do is carry on from the people before. He was a big part of that."

Palace have hit the buffers recently, with the FA Cup victory at Tottenham in the fifth round the only bright spot amid a run of 12 Premier League games without a win.

Reading, meanwhile, are unbeaten at home in 2016, but McDermott is taking nothing for granted.

"Alan's record speaks for itself," he said. "He's managed at big clubs. He's gone back to Palace and done a really good job, like he did at Newcastle, West Ham and Southampton.

"This is a Premier League side coming to a Championship club. We know they have threats, we know it wasn't long ago they were winning lots of games and don't forget they went to White Hart Lane, played one of the top teams, and won."

The Royals hope to welcome back Paul McShane, Hal Robson-Kanu and Matej Vydra but George Evans and Yann Kermorgant sit out as they are cup-tied.

Meanwhile, Pardew has revealed the pleasure he took from McDermott's return to Reading as he prepares to tackle his former team and old colleague.

"I was so pleased (McDermott) got the job back at Reading because he knows the club and understands what it takes to get out of the Championship," said Pardew.

"They've made a really first-class appointment. I expect they'll be pushing to get back in the Premier League next year. The play-offs are probably a step too far so the cup is everything for them and us as well. It will make for a really tense game."

Pardew is prepared to be the target for chiding from Reading supporters.

"I've never had a great reception but that's pretty understandable, the way I left," Pardew said.

"I had a great period of my career there but I didn't leave in the best circumstances, but I've seen (Reading chairman) John Madejski and the board and shook hands and put it behind us. I class him still as a friend really.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Brian and a few old friends at Reading. If we get beaten, I know what the club are going through and that'll be the only consolation.

"We talked about how I left and there were mistakes on both sides and we moved on. They're in good hands with Brian."

Wayne Hennessey and Jason Puncheon have returned from injury in time for Friday's fixture, and particularly after Alex McCarthy's costly mistake during Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool, the former is expected to start.

Marouane Chamakh has, however, been ruled out with an adductor injury suffered in Monday's reserve fixture against Colchester, which could yet end his season and put his future at the club into doubt, given his contract expires in the summer.

"Chamakh tore his adductor in a reserve game on Monday and it's a terrible injury for him," Pardew said. "He's been struggling with injuries and it's such a shame. But Puncheon is available and that's a big boost.

"We've really missed him in terms of his control of possession and Premier League experience."