Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic will not be joining up with the Montenegro national team during the international break, manager Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed.

Osmajic, who has earned 26 caps and scored twice for his country, was initially called up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands. However, after missing PNE’s last three matches, he has decided to remain with the club and focus on his recovery.

Heckingbottom Confirms Injury Concerns

The Preston boss revealed that Osmajic was eager to join up with Montenegro, but his injury has prevented him from doing so.

“Yeah, so he’ll not be going away,” said Heckingbottom. “We know he’s injured because he was desperate to go away with Montenegro again after being called up. I was certain we’d get him back for this game, and I know how much he wanted to play—because he wanted to go away.”

Osmajic’s absence in recent weeks has been a concern for PNE, and Heckingbottom’s comments suggest the injury required careful management. The upcoming two-week break will now serve as a crucial recovery period for the striker, allowing him to work towards full fitness.

Recovery Plan for Key Players

The international break is expected to be a crucial period for multiple PNE players struggling with fitness. Heckingbottom highlighted that defender Jordan Storey is another player who will use this time to recover, along with others in various stages of rehabilitation.

“We’ve got two weeks now for him, two weeks for Jordan (Storey), people like that – and that’s going to be important these next two weeks for all the players,” Heckingbottom explained.

“We’ve got a lot of different stages, either recovery from injuries or players who have played a vast amount of minutes. We need to look after them in different ways.”

Milutin Osmajić Career

Milutin Osmajić began his career with FK Sutjeska Nikšić, winning the 2018–19 Montenegrin First League and finishing as the club’s second-top scorer in 2020–21. He signed with La Liga side Cádiz in 2021, later going on loan to Bandırmaspor and Vizela. In 2023, he joined Preston North End for a club-record fee, scoring decisive goals, including a six-minute hat-trick against Huddersfield.

In 2024, he was banned for eight matches after an alleged biting incident. In 2025, he was accused of racial abuse by Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri, which he denied.

Writer’s View

Osmajic’s absence from Montenegro duty underscores how important this international break is for PNE’s squad. Heckingbottom will be hoping that his injured players can return at full strength, with the FA Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa looming large. Managing these next two weeks carefully could be crucial for Preston’s end-of-season ambitions.