Andrija Vukcevic praises former Preston North End teammate Milutin Osmajic

Andrija Vukcevic is happy to see Mulitin Osmajic get off to a good start to life at Genoa, even if it's 'strange' at Preston North End without him.

Vukcevic and Osmajic are international teammates for Montenegro and were so at club level too last season when the left-back arrived at Deepdale as a free agent from Juarez.

Osmajic had already been a Preston player for two years, but the compatriots would only be together in Lancashire for a single season, as the striker departed the club for Italy in the summer transfer window.

North End raised a fee believed to be £2.1m for the 27-year-old, who has gone on to grab goals against Fiorentina, Parma and Como already in Serie A.

"It's a bit strange [without him], but he's doing well in Italy!" Vukcevic told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's started really well, he's scored like three goals already. Doing very well.

"Yeah, outside of that [national team] we're still in contact, we speak outside of football."

Andrija Vukcevic gives verdict on draw with West Brom

The mood has been a lot lighter around Preston this week after Graham Alexander got his first point as manager at the fourth attempt.

His side were unfortunate not to get all three points against West Brom, after a series of refereeing decisions went against them, but Vukcevic was pleased with the performance nevertheless.

The 30-year-old believes North End have now 'set the bar' for how they must perform in every game.

"Obviously, it was a really good game by everyone," he said.

"We could see the fans' reaction after the game as well. Overall it was a good performance, you could see the spirit, togetherness, all over the pitch.

"The way we competed all 90 minutes. I think we deserved more out of that game.

"I think that we've set the bar, now. I would say a minimal requirement going forward. Then we need to... it's down to us to turn those performances into wins.”

He continued: "I think the new manager has brought so many positives about how he wants us to play.

"The position, the pressure, to press high, to be aggressive, win the individuals battles all over the pitch and I think we did it on Saturday.

"It's maybe unlucky not to take all three points, but it's definitely something we can build on.

"Everyone likes to play on the front foot. That's something we did on Saturday and we need to keep this momentum going.

"It hasn't been the start to the season that anyone hoped for. But we are working really hard to turn this around.

"I think Saturday's performance a good example of how we should look like in the next games.”

Vukcevic praises Thierry Small

Vukcevic has started, and completed, the last two games and appears to be pulling ahead in the pecking order for the left wing-back slot ahead of Thierry Small. Or at least while Caleb Wiley finds his way back to full fitness.

When asked about battling Small for a starting berth and if they pushed each other on, Vukcevic had nothing but praise for his teammate.

"Thierry is a young lad. He did really well last season when he came in," he told The Post.

"He's got huge talent and that's something he needs to keep working hard, believing in himself and his opportunity will come. Definitely."