Five-star Osmajic nears Preston return

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic scored five goals for the reserve team in an 8-4 victory over Wigan Athletic as he nears a first-team return.

Osmajic has missed the past eight games after being banned by the FA for biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck in the Lancashire derby in September. He was also fined £15,000.

He is eligible to return in Preston’s Championship game against Derby County at Deepdale on Saturday, 23 November, after the international break.

North End were 1-0 down to Wigan Athletic in their Central League Cup game on Wednesday afternoon before the 25-year-old took over, firing a first-half hat-trick to turn the tie around.

The Montenegro international played all 90 minutes and added two more with Theo Mawene, Layton Stewart and Kian Taylor also on target in the victory.

Osmajic has scored five goals in 11 appearances for Paul Heckingbottom's side this season.