Paul Heckingbottom sets 'professionalism' challenge to Preston North End star

Paul Heckingbottom has opened up on the challenge facing PNE striker Milutin Osmajic as the Montenegro international looks to move on from a difficult spell in his time at Deepdale.

After joining the Lilywhites from Spanish club Cadiz in September 2023, Osmajic has gone on to score 29 goals and provide five assists in 97 appearances in all competitions. However, the former FC Vizela and FK Sutjeska Niksic frontman has been at the heart of two controversial incidents that have hit the headlines throughout his time as a North End player.

Osmajic was handed a nine-game ban by the Football Association last season for allegedly making racist comments to Burnley midfielder Hannibal Majbri - although North End described themselves as ‘extremely disappointed’ with the decision-making process implemented by the governing body and an independent regulatory commission. The striker returned to become a regular feature for the Lilywhites during the final six months of the campaign but was handed another three-game ban last month when he headbutted Hull City midfielder John Lundstrum in the final stages of North End’s 3-0 home defeat against the Tigers.

Osmajic made his comeback from that suspension as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Watford and marked his return by finding the net to earn his side a point against a Hornets side under the management of Ed Still for the first time. North End boss Heckingbottom discussed the striker’s ability and insisted he would become a ‘far better player’ if he is able to show more professionalism.

Speaking after the weekend draw, he said of Osmajic: "Yeah, rely is a good word. Listen, I know what he is and I've got no problem with him as a person. Like I said, it's his professionalism, that challenge and he would be a far better player. You know, you guys just see the stuff on the pitch, the good and the bad. So, no problem with him. He trains well in terms of his effort. He's got to live the life of a footballer and be in a better place all the time and that'd allow him to perform like that."

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