From Zero To Hero - But Can Osmand Kick On At Celtic?

Callum Osmand's all-action goalscoring show disconnected nan chair successful Celtic's Scottish League Cup semi-final occurrence complete Rangers prompted a akin thought successful nan minds of many.

"Where has Osmand been?" asked erstwhile Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew.

"Why has he not been an action until now?" wondered ex-Scotland guardant James McFadden.

Those questions would apt besides person been asked by a fanbase that has watched its squad struggle successful onslaught passim this season.

In an influential cameo astatine Hampden, nan 19-year-old scored 1 and could person had a mates much arsenic Celtic saw disconnected their 10-man rivals successful other time.

Replacing chap goalscorer Johnny Kenny, who seems to person grasped his opportunity pinch some hands, Osmand has now besides staked a declare to beryllium a regular nether interim head Martin O'Neill.

"There are nary words, it's 1 of those moments that don't happen," nan teenage guardant told Premier Sports. "It's an astonishing feeling, there's thing better.

"This is going to beryllium nan craziest time of my life, location is thing that tin really apical this - unless its scoring against them successful nan last - but it's nan champion time of my life."

So wherever has Osmand been?

"Running up and down successful nan rainfall connected nan transportation connected my own," according to nan Wales younker international, who was signed from Fulham's academy successful nan summer.

A free-scoring guardant successful nan Premier League side's younker set-up, erstwhile head Brendan Rodgers highlighted Osmand's imaginable erstwhile he arrived astatine Celtic successful June.

However, nan teen grounded to play a azygous infinitesimal nether Rodgers, contempt his onslaught lacking cutting edge, gait and strength successful nan months earlier his daze resignation.

Osmand was past handed his debut by O'Neill arsenic a substitute successful past Wednesday's 4-0 triumph complete Falkirk and again came disconnected nan chair astatine Hampden connected Sunday.

"He has conscionable fixed maine nan assurance and nan trust," Osmand said of nan Celtic caretaker boss. "It only takes 1 personification to judge successful you and push you on.

"The past fewer months, that's nan spot that builds you arsenic a personification and a player. Those moments wherever I've not been successful squads and I'm moving up and down successful nan rainfall connected nan transportation connected my ain - pinch a mates different boys - is painful.

"But I consciousness those are nan bits that create you arsenic a subordinate and hole you for these moments - you conscionable person to return it."

O'Neill conceded he "didn't cognize anything" astir Osmand until a week ago, but he has hailed his "excellent" publication since.

"The young man is very sharp," nan interim head added. "He wants to get a mates of DVDs connected Henrik [Larsson] - that would help.

"He's sewage plentifulness of confidence, he was arguing pinch everyone astatine nan end."

Former Celtic leader Neil Lennon described Osmand arsenic "something a small spot different".

In a vibrant and influential showing astatine Hampden, nan Welshman had 5 shots and picked up a yellowish paper for a foul connected Rangers skipper James Tavernier.

His extremity came pinch his 5th effort, a first-time decorativeness betwixt nan posts pursuing a debased transverse from nan near by Kieran Tierney.

In nan build-up, nan youngster's aggravated pressing helped Celtic regain nan shot successful nan last 3rd erstwhile he dispossessed Joe Rothwell.

That benignant of thrust has been missing from a Celtic broadside that person grounded to people successful six games this word and person netted less convention goals than Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian and Dundee United.

But pinch 7 goals successful their past 2 games nether O'Neill, and young duo Osmand and Kenny emerging from nan shadows, location are abruptly signs of life successful nan guardant line.

"That summed up a Celtic squad nether Martin O'Neill," erstwhile Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said connected BBC Sportsound.

"High energy, everybody banging into tackles. Is that what we are going to get from Celtic each week now?".

David: Kenny abruptly starts banging them in. Osmand gets successful nan squad and scores - neither of these were happening nether Rodgers. The shackles are disconnected and players look liberated.

Ian: Good to spot nan strength back. Osmand and Kenny look bully options up front, and Auston Trusty was solid.

Jim: Why has it taken until now for Osmand to get included successful nan first team? Rodgers wanted to nonstop him retired connected loan. It's early days, but younker is yet getting a chance for stardom.

Gary: Celtic would beryllium successful nan Champions League if Osmand had been selected from nan first crippled of nan season. O'Neill and Shaun Maloney person re-introduced attacking shot and should beryllium imperishable appointments. The dismal and disastrous Rodgers authorities is over.