Callum Osmand is ready to stake his claim for serious minutes this season, making it crystal clear he wants to be more than just a "moments player" for Celtic. The young striker, who delivered some of the most memorable goals last campaign, is pitching himself directly to manager Martin O'Neill, aiming to cement a regular spot in the squad.
Glory Moments Were Great, But the Minutes Weren't
Last season, Osmand gave us some absolutely unforgettable moments. Seriously, who could ever forget that League Cup semi-final goal against the Rangers at Hampden? Pure fire! And then, the title decider against Hearts in the last moment of the last game of the season, making sure Celtic would be champions? Goosebumps, every single time. That goal, the one that sealed the title, Martin O'Neill himself called it possibly the most watched Celtic goal in decades. And yeah, I've watched it hundreds of times, no shame in that!
But as much as he brought the glory, the minutes just weren't there. His football was limited to Martin O'Neill's two interim spells, and then came that brutal hamstring injury suffered in the Europa League match at Midtjylland. You could feel his frustration, right? The guy delivered in the biggest spots, but he wasn't out there week in, week out. "I saw something that was saying it's now more about seeing if I can do it against everyone now instead of just having a couple of big moments," Osmand told Scottish Sun. "I want to challenge myself to be able to do it week in, week out and not just be a moments player. That's the goal for me this year."
The Pitch to O'Neill: "I Want to Stake My Claim"
Now, Osmand wants those minutes, and he's not just hoping for them. He's making a proactive move, outlining his plans to chat with Martin O'Neill to pitch himself for more first team responsibilities. He's already had general talks with coaches Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, but he's eyeing a direct sit-down with the gaffer. "I've not had a chance to speak to him yet. I should probably put that back in my mind. I am going to do that," Osmand vocalized. "Now we're back in Glasgow, that is something I'll do. But I do want to sit down with the manager as well to go through that side of stuff."
Osmand is clearly thrilled that O'Neill stayed on, agreeing to a one-year contract with an option for another. "It's amazing he's stayed on. I'm very happy he's still here," he said, acknowledging the manager's faith in him last season. "Hopefully he can make use of me this year and I can play for him and do what I do best. I'm just hoping I get that chance. I'm going to work as hard as I can, the same as last year, to make sure I can put myself in the best place. Last season he and the coaching staff showed a lot of faith in me so hopefully it's the start of something big."
Osmand wants to be a regular, to deliver consistently. He's going to work as hard as possible to earn that chance. What he does in the upcoming campaign, and how many minutes O'Neill gives him, will be a huge storyline as the season kicks off. Will this be the year Osmand becomes that week-in, week-out force?
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.