Lancashire

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Ross County have signed Blackpool defender Zac Ashworth on loan until the end of the season.

Ashworth, 22, joined Blackpool from West Brom last summer and has made 13 appearances this season for the English League One side.

Staggies manager Don Cowie is pleased with the addition of the "versatile" Wales U21 international, who has had previous loan spells at Bolton and Burton Albion.

"He comes with a good amount of games played in English football as well as with the Welsh national team at youth level," said Cowie.

"He is a versatile player who has experience playing as a full-back as well as at centre-back."

Burnley welcome fourth placed Sunderland for a shot at the top on Friday evening (20:00 GMT).

The Clarets are just one point shy of league leaders Leeds United, while the Black Cats will go above their hosts if they take all three points at Turf Moor.

The match could see a debut for Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, with Sunderland bolstering their squad as they compete for an automatic promotion place - and avoid shock defeats such as exiting the FA Cup at the hands of a struggling Stoke City.

Meanwhile, it took extra time for Burnley to get past Reading in their cup victory at the weekend, but the win did mean they went a 14th successive game unbeaten across all competitions.

• Burnley have won just three of their past 23 league games against Sunderland (D9 L11), failing to score in five of their past seven matches.

• Sunderland have failed to win any of their past five away league games against Burnley (D3 L2), since a 2-0 win at Turf Moor in March 2005.

• Burnley have kept 17 clean sheets in just 26 league games this season and currently have the best goals-conceded per game rate by a team in a single season in English Football League history (0.35 – 9 in total).

• Sunderland have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), failing to score in four of those outings.

• In games between the current top four teams in the Championship this season (Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, Sunderland), Burnley (2.0 – W2 L1) and Sunderland (1.8 – W2 D1 L1) have the best points-per-game rates.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey remains on trial with Burnley as he seeks to seal a move back to England. (Burnley Express, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Preston North End goalkeeper Alan Kelly heaped praise on striker Milutin Osmajic after his double in the 2-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Tuesday.

Osmajic's willingness to do the "ugly work" is what makes him so valuable to Preston, as they progressed to the fourth round and a tie against Wycombe Wanderers.

"He has done fantastic in the game for Preston. His running forward, I think Preston matched it by playing forward quicker and he got a brilliant second goal from a set-play," Kelly told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"His running and his work rate for the team, the way that he hustles defenders and makes it uncomfortable for them, it's a really good outlet, any team needs that.

"He gave everything, it's the off the ball running, the closing down, the ugly part of the job that he did so well.

"They always know with Osmajic that they've got an out-ball. That was born out by his first goal that he made for himself in my opinion. He doesn't give up, he puts the opposition under pressure, a mistake happens and he slots the first goal away – fantastic."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker says the club have "not yet made a decision" on whether to sign Jonjo Shelvey.

The 32-year-old former Liverpool and Newcastle United midfielder is training with the Clarets squad and is available on a free transfer having been released by Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor.

"We'll have those conversations in the coming days on how I see things and where he sits with it as well," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's been first class since he came in, applied himself in the right way, but it's still too early to say."

The Clarets who sit second in the Championship and a point behind leaders Leeds host fourth-placed Sunderland on Friday and Parker says "nothing's changed" in terms of the injury situation in his squad ahead of the game.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom felt his side were not at their best as they beat League One Charlton Athletic to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Milutin Osmajic scored in either half to secure a 2-1 victory and set up a tie against Wycombe Wanderers but Heckingbottom believes North End made it a closer game against the Addicks than it needed to be.

"I'm delighted to get the job done, it was a tricky game," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We knew that Charlton would make it tricky with their style and how they play but I thought we contributed towards making it tricky as well.

"We were really sloppy with the ball, especially in the second half. We didn't play enough forward passes in behind them in the first half. We were brave and took the ball but didn't pose enough problems.

"The way we started the second half I thought we'd wrestle control of the game but it never really happened so we had to win the game in a different way and stood strong but we made it tough for ourselves."

Osmajic got the nod over Lilywhites top marksman Emil Riis with the Montenegro international making the most of his opportunity to net his eighth and ninth goals of the season.

"We always knew he would work hard, I always fancy him to get a goal," Heckingbottom added.

"I want him to improve in terms of his role out of possession because I think it can help the team and also help him save energy in certain moments to be more affective when we do have the ball.

"But I'm delighted for him. I believe he's a big threat when he's on the pitch."