Paul Lambert and Malky Mackay were among the managers who tipped speed ace Kadeem Harris for a hugely successful playing career.

They saw the potential in a kid from London who possessed sizzling pace and now Neil Warnock is hoping to see the best of Harris in a Bluebirds shirt.

“I’ve given Kadeem confidence really,” says Warnock, “He’s always been a threat. He’s not just the icing on the cake going forward.

“He defends well, as well. In a team performance you have to do that, we have not got the space to carry anybody. The wide players have to work hard and they are.”

In many ways Warnock and Harris have shared ideals and ambition. Both love to see football played the right way, they want to see pace out wide – and each have a burning desire for promotion.

Warnock has led teams up seven times and how he would love to make that a record-breaking eight.

Harris was playing at Wycombe Wanderers when they went up in 2009 under ex-England caretaker manager Peter Taylor, but he didn’t break into the first team until the following season.

Then, when he went on loan to Brentford, he helped them step up, but had returned to Cardiff by the time they clinched success.

“My dream is to be part of a promotion-winning team and next season,” says Harris, whose current Cardiff contract ends this summer and he is intent on earning a new deal.

Certainly, he is comfortable playing under Warnock, a manager who has achieved seven promotions.

Harris, 23, fired the first two Bluebirds goals as they fought back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 at Derby County in midweek. “He’s the first manager that’s come to the club that’s actually shown real belief in me.

“Even if I don’t have the best of games he’ll pull me aside and sometimes I might even start the next one and I don’t think I’ve had that before.

“The gaffer gives me confidence in myself, I am starting to repay him for that by producing on the pitch and I want that to continue.”

Cardiff, who are now in the top half of the Championship table, albeit 13 points adrift of the play-off positions, are at home against Rotherham United on Saturday and then host Fulham a week later.

Harris looks certain to be a part of Warnock’s starring line-up against Rotherham, the club he managed and steered clear of relegation trouble last season.

It was Lambert who spotted Harris, a teenage judo black belt who was born in Westminster, playing Sunday football. He made his debut for Wycombe at 16 years, 201 days, which made him the clubs youngest ever player at the time.

Harris was voted Football League Apprentice of the Year in 2011 and is now looking to finally realise the potential he has shown since then.

Mackay was in charge at Cardiff when they pair Wanderers £150,000 for Harris and he tipped the flying winger to be a success at Championship level.

He has always had an abundance of raw talent, a good attitude, work ethic and loves playing football. Harris is inevitably smiling when he is training and has described himself as ‘confident, but not arrogant.’

The task for Harris is to make sure he does enough to earn a new Cardiff contract and that Warnock remains a Bluebird.

Back-to-back away wins at Leeds and Derby in their last two matches have ensured Warnock has transformed City from relegation battlers into a mid-table Championship team.

The pressure, surely, is off in terms of staying up.

Now the Bluebirds need to start planning for the future. Making sure Warnock – and Harris – stay next season would be a good start.