THIS time last week, Callum Osmand didn’t know if he would be included in comeback boss Martin O’Neill’s Celtic squad for the Premiership encounter against Falkirk at Parkhead.
Today, the Jersey-born teenage striker is on the brink of a dramatic Europa League call-up against FC Midtjylland in Denmark tomorrow night.
And there is the chance of a place in O’Neill’s plans for the Premier Sports League Cup Final against St Mirren on Sunday December 14 at Hampden after his extra-time strike – the killer third – against Ibrox opposition at the same venue at the weekend sealed the triumph.
PICK IT OUT…Callum Osmand checks he is onside after turning in Kieran Tierney’s cross for Celtic’s third goal while James Tavernier and Jack Butland can’t disguise disappointment.
It has been a sensational transformation in such a short space of time for the 19-year-old frontman after his anonymous three months at the champions following his summer arrival from Fulham.
O’Neill and his squad will fly out today and the Hoops could take advantage of a new UEFA rule that allows clubs to replace a long-term injured outfield player.
Unfortunately, Cameron Carter-Vickers has been ruled out for up to five months with an Achilles tear and his lengthy omission has opened the way for an unregistered player to step in.
Osmand, of course, failed to make Brendan Rodgers’ initial 24-man squad for Europe, but his successor O’Neill is ready to trigger the new clause and bring in the Welsh Youth international.
Naturally, the new Bhoy on the block is eager to get involved and said: “Whatever happens, I’m ready to play.
“So if that can happen, it’ll be a good thing for me. I’m always ready to perform.”
HOOPY DAZE…Callum Osmand is congratulated by Arne Engels and Kieran Tierney.
Interim gaffer O’Neill has worked on the teen’s confidence levels and Osmand, speaking to the Daily Record, revealed: “The first few conversations I had with him were all positive.
“He just gives me that reassurance. He’s heard good things, he knows I’m a good player. That’s all the stuff that you need to hear as a player, really.
“It’s just trust. He says that he believes in me and he’s going to keep pushing me. That’s good.”
Reflecting on his time on the periphery, Osmand admitted: “It is tough because you don’t feel like you’re in the squad.
“The boys are all great, but it feels like you’re not really a player as such. It feels like I’m not contributing. I just want to be helping the team.
“In those moments, though, you’ve just got to keep working and bide your time. In those moments, you’ve got to face your friends when they ask: ‘What’s going on? What’s happening?’
“You get those messages from your friends and your family saying: ‘When are we coming to watch you again?’ I reply: ‘Oh, I’m not playing yet.’
HAIL THE HAMPDEN HERO…Callum Osmand accepts the accolades of the joyous Celtic fans at the end of a dramatic Premier Sports League Cup encounter.
“It’s about patience, there’s no need to rush anything. I knew that when I came in.
“If you told me this time last year what I’d be doing now, I’d be very happy.”
Ambitious Osmand didn’t hesitate to swap London for Glasgow and added: “Obviously, my targets were to be playing, to get myself in the squad.
“I was not really thinking too much about starting because I was playing academy at Fulham.
“I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m coming in, I want to play every game.’
“But I wanted to be around it and I’m glad the way it’s going. I’ve just got to keep pushing and keep rising.”
