Milutin Osmajic celebrates hat-trick as five-star Preston see off Harrogate

Milutin Osmajic pressed his claim for a Championship recall as he scored a hat-trick along with two assists as Preston claimed a 5-0 Carabao Cup victory away to Harrogate.

The Montenegro international was one of six changes that new boss Paul Heckingbottom made to the starting XI he selected for Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over Luton.

While on-loan Leeds midfielder Sam Greenwood got the ball rolling with a first-half brace.

Preston ended more than 10 hours without an away goal when Greenwood curled a 25-yard free-kick into home goalkeeper James Belshaw’s top-right corner after Anthony O’Connor had hauled down Osmajic.

The former England Under-21 international then doubled his tally for the night after 37th minute, firing the ball inside Belshaw’s right-hand post from the penalty spot after Toby Sims had lunged into a tackle on Osmajic.

Two minutes later, Osmajic made it 3-0 when he slammed the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards following Duane Holmes’ forward pass.

Osmajic then notched a second for himself in first-half stoppage time, bundling in at the far post from Brad Potts’ left-wing cross.

The 25-year-old Montenegro forward went on to rattle an upright and Andrew Hughes also tested the home crossbar before the former burst through the right channel and shot across goal into the bottom corner to claim the match ball.