Celtic star's telepathic connection with strike partner and why his best is yet to come
Forward remains at an early stage of his senior career but has offered a tantalising glimpse of what might follow
Callum Osmand continues to highlight his considerable potential by making his mark at Celtic, but the young forward is adamant that what supporters have witnessed so far is only the beginning.
The 20-year-old has experienced a whirlwind introduction to first-team football in Glasgow, with the demands of competing for a place at one of Scotland's biggest clubs providing a steep learning curve. Yet his decisive contribution to Celtic's dramatic 3-2 Europa League victory over Besiktas offered another glimpse of the qualities that have made him such an intriguing prospect.
Introduced by Martin O’Neill in the second half, Osmand wasted little time making his presence felt against the Turkish side, scoring just 43 seconds after coming on before delivering a perfectly weighted pass for Camilo Duran to complete his double. His impact transformed the contest and secured Celtic a much-needed victory.
“Yeah, it was crazy. It's a surreal feeling when it's my first touch as well,” he reflected. “I was a bit nervous that I'd shanked it, but no, I'm happy that I caught it nicely. He (O’Neill) knows that I know what he expects from me, so it was about making sure I can come and bring some energy.”
His burgeoning partnership with Duran was another highlight. Their understanding was evident in the build-up to Celtic's vital third goal, with the former Fulham forward displaying excellent vision to pick out the Colombian's run in behind.
“I thought he was offside, to be honest!” Osmand admitted. “I was looking at the bench saying 'Close?', and they were like, 'Yeah, it's tight', but I know where he's going. He's such a sharp striker, so I know if I put that in the space, the keeper is not getting anywhere near it. He's a top, top player, so I can't fault him at all.”
Their connection is extending beyond the pitch, too. Despite a language barrier, Osmand feels the pair have struck up a genuine friendship.
“His English is really not great, but somehow we manage to talk to each other a lot,” he laughed. “I think I find him quite a good friend of mine now. Although we might not speak many words, you can tell just by looking. We talk to each other a lot. Maybe it's little words, but we get on really well.
“Camilo is unbelievable, a really top player. You can see even by the way he walks and the way he moves. I learn off him every day. He's a great guy.”
The victory over Besiktas could prove pivotal to Celtic's European ambitions, and Osmand hopes it will provide the confidence required to approach the remaining fixtures with greater freedom.
“For us, it felt like a must-win. That was our mindset going into the game and it’s a huge result,” he explained. “We knew we could still qualify, but we knew we had to get something out of Thursday night, and I think the boys done amazing.
“Sometimes when you're not as confident, it's tough to play the football you want to play, but as you can see, when we're confident, it just goes forward every time. We know when we're not playing as well, and we'll be the first, as players, to critique each other and critique ourselves before anyone else. It is about just staying together, building and getting a result like this to take into the next game.”
Osmand is equally candid about his own development, insisting there is still plenty of room for improvement despite his encouraging start. He pointed out what will be key to taking his game to the next level.
“I'm nowhere near where I want to be personally, and there's stuff I need to tidy up on, like decision-making and all this stuff,” Osmand admitted. “But I feel like the more games I play, the more I understand and the more I learn. So on a personal note, that's what I want to do, just keep learning and keep understanding my role and obviously the players you're playing with.
“I've still only played a handful of games, so it's tough learning, but I feel like when you get thrown in the deep end, it's the best way to learn. It's just as long as I can get better every game, that's all I really want to focus on.”
His recent deployment on the left wing has also offered another opportunity to broaden his game. Although not a position he has traditionally occupied, Osmand is relishing the licence to express himself.
“I’m really enjoying it. It's a really fun position and it's very, very attacking,” he commented. “I have a lot of freedom and the staff give me that freedom and tell me to go and try and make something happen. It's a great feeling when you know you can just go and impose your game.”
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