Paul Heckingbottom tight lipped on where Milutin Osmajic stands at Preston North End after Hull City incident
The forward was shown a straight red card towards the end of Tuesday’s defeat
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom kept his cards close to his chest over the fallout of Milutin Osmajic’s latest flashpoint.
At the end of Tuesday night’s 0-3 defeat to Hull City, the Montenegrin was provoked by John Lundstram and headbutted him the Tigers midfielder. As pointed out by the North End boss post-match, it will mean Osmajic has now missed 20 games for Preston as a result of bans.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Heckingbottom said: “I haven't spoken to him. I spoke to him straight after the game, but I've not spoken to him since then. Yeah (it makes my job more difficult), because we've not got him for three games. The other things (it makes more difficult) I'm not to speak to you about.”
Osmajic, who has previously been banned for biting an opponent and alleged racial abuse - separate incidents - hit national headlines again after the headbutt. Speaking on talkSPORT, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy questioned whether ‘the juice is worth the squeeze’ when it comes to the player.
When asked about that, Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post: “That's the phrase, yeah... that's the phrase That's the phrase with every player all the time. That's always it. It's a great way of putting it.”
And when asked if he understands should PNE fans, who have stood by the striker, are now finished, Heckingbottom simply replied: “Yeah.”
Simon Jordan’s prediction on Osmajic
The former Crystal Palace owner said on Wednesday: “I thought Paul Heckingbottom handled the conversation in the media pretty well.
“They need to marginalise the downside of getting this fella out, which is making sure some other fool will take on the liability of him - suggest he has been badly misunderstood and it is just cultural differences... ‘He will be much better off in some other country, playing for them and by the way, here is the fee for him.
“That is what Peter will be trying to achieve now because I think, most likely, the manager will have run his course with him. But then again, with respect to Paul and how well he handled this, do you know your players? Do you know the reality of what your players are capable of doing and their flashpoints?
“I am sure Paul would say he put the player on notice, that if we get a situation, a flashpoint, you have been involved in two now. I am sure Paul must've said can we make sure you retain control when a moment comes on top. The player is not capable of it."
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