Callum Osmand scored one of the most memorable goals in recent Celtic history, but the young striker is determined to prove he is much more than a one-moment wonder.
The 20-year-old netted in the 98th minute against Hearts on May 16 to clinch the Premiership title for the Hoops in a stunning final-day showdown at Parkhead.
His goal made it 3-1 on the night and sent Celtic fans into wild celebrations, with footage of the strike and his run up the pitch replayed endlessly since that remarkable afternoon.
Osmand has found it impossible to escape the moment, with fans on social media and on the street constantly reminding him of the iconic strike wherever he goes.
“When I was on holiday in Cyprus, I just saw some lads that were doing the celebration down the road,” he said, recalling one particularly memorable encounter while abroad.
“I spotted them, and I was like, ‘Nah, surely not’. Then they came over, but that was a funny moment. Good fun.”
The former Fulham youngster says he is sent footage of the goal almost every single day, whether through social media messages or fan interactions during photographs.
“I can’t escape that goal,” he admitted. “I see that goal almost every day. Someone sends it to me or reminds me when I’m taking a selfie with someone. I’ve replied to that a million times.”
Despite enjoying the attention, Osmand is clear that he wants to build a sustained body of work rather than being defined by a single memorable contribution to Celtic’s season.
“It’s more about seeing if I can do it against everyone now instead of just having a couple of big moments,” he said, outlining his ambitions for the campaign ahead.
“I want to challenge myself to be able to do it week in, week out and not just be a moments player.”
Osmand also produced a standout performance against Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final extra-time win at Hampden last November before suffering an injury that disrupted his momentum.
Boss Martin O’Neill has been strengthening his attacking options, with Camilo Duran arriving for £6 million from Qarabag and a deal to bring back Kelechi Iheanacho reportedly in the works.
Duran netted from the bench in Celtic’s 4-1 friendly defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Algarve on Tuesday, immediately catching Osmand’s attention in training and in the game itself.
“He seems like a good player,” Osmand said of his new teammate. “He seems quick, good. His pressing seems very good too. He was darting around a lot. That’s how he got his goal.”
Osmand insists he is not distracted by external competition and remains focused entirely on his own form, fitness, and consistency heading into the new season.
“I want to stake my claim and show I can do more than that and be a regular, giving the same as I’ve been giving in the moments week in, week out,” he said firmly.
The striker also expressed genuine delight that O’Neill is back in the dugout, crediting the manager for backing him during his rise through the Celtic setup from the B team.
“He showed a lot of faith in me, him and the coaching staff,” Osmand said. “Hopefully, it’s the start of something big.”
Celtic face Middlesbrough in their next pre-season fixture as the club steps up preparations for the new Premiership campaign, with fans eager to see further additions to the squad before the season begins.
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