'I've been really clear' - Milutin Osmajic contract message fired by Preston North End boss

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom does not want to let Milutin Osmajic enter the last 12 months of his contract.

Whether that means looking to sell the Montenegro international this summer, or extend his stay at Deepdale, remains to be seen. Osmajic has scored eight goals in the league while missing 12 games through suspension - on top of his eight last year. But, after losing Emil Riis on a free in his first year at the club, Heckingbottom believes some form of action is needed on PNE’s part this summer.

“One of those two, yeah,” said Heckingbottom. “I think I've been really clear on that. One area we need to improve as a football team, if we want to build things, is get control of situations - that's it. That's certainly why I'm here. We made a first step in the summer to try and make a shift, but that's all it is.

“If we can't build on that then it's pointless... you're just clinging on until you can't. We made a positive first step but we need to improve year on year and that's a big part of it: people coming into that final year, assets, selling at the right time, buying at the right time and improving that.”

On whether he thinks there will be interest in the player, the PNE boss said: “I don't know. I'm not getting drawn on any of that until the summer, not one little bit. I would get stuck into the players if they were as well. In the summer, I'll have chats with all the players about anything like that but not now.”

‘Not comfortable in any chaos’

Osmajic missed eight games last year after biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck. This season, a nine-game ban was imposed following racism allegations made against him by Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri. In his fourth game back from that absence, Osmajic headbutted Hull City’s John Lundstram, resulting in a three-game suspension. Preston’s boss has not shied away from the fact PNE’s striker needs to make changes away from the field.

“He's always a good person around the place,” said Heckingbottom. “I've said to him and I've said to you, maybe not as blatantly, it's away from here. If he was handcuffed to me all the time he'd be fine, but he needs to be more professional in his life and not comfortable in any sort of chaos.

“If everything was like that all the time with him then he may be reacting different ways. He will learn and he's not a bad person, he's just reacting to situations in a way which he can't afford, and that's what he's got to learn.

“But he'll give himself a better chance if, away from here, he's more professional in his lifestyle approach, preparation, recovery, everything. He's not had to do it before but these things highlight why you need to do it, whether it's your body or your mind. “