Callum Osmand is demonstrating he is more than capable of contributing to Celtic's first team, having overcome a difficult start to his career with the club that was hampered by injuries. The 19-year-old forward, signed from Fulham, had not played a minute of senior football prior to his eventual departure from the club at the end of October.
Despite initial excitement from manager Brendan Rodgers, Osmand found himself overlooked even when Celtic's attack faltered in matches against Kairat Almaty. However, after making his debut under Martin O'Neill, he scored a crucial header in a League Cup semi-final against Rangers before a hamstring tear sidelined him. He returned to help Celtic secure the league title on the final day of the season, providing an assist and scoring himself against Hearts.
After another injury at the start of the current campaign, Osmand has rebounded strongly. He recently scored and assisted Camilo Duran in a Europa Conference League match against Besiktas. This followed his first senior start, where he scored twice in a dominant 7-1 victory over Hearts.
Now nearing his 21st birthday, Osmand acknowledges that his development was hindered by the lack of game time due to injuries. "I would say I'm nowhere near where I want to be personally," he stated. "There's stuff I need to tidy up on, like decision-making and all this stuff. But I feel like the more games I play, the more I understand and the more I learn."
Osmand described his goal against Besiktas, which came with his first touch after coming off the bench, as a "surreal feeling." His subsequent assist for Duran, setting up the go-ahead goal, showcased his vision and execution.
He has also developed a strong understanding with fellow forward Camilo Duran. "He's unbelievable, a really top player," Osmand said of Duran. "I learn off him every day. He's an amazing guy. His English is really not great, but somehow we manage to talk to each other a lot."
Osmand believes the recent crucial win against Besiktas, where he and Duran combined for three goals, can provide the team with much-needed confidence. "For us, it felt like a must win, like that was our sort of mindset going into that," he said. "I think the boys did amazing, so hopefully we just get some confidence and build on from this and that gives us confidence to play more free and take more risks."