Callum Osmand

Who says Maeda is our first choice winger? For all we know he is going to be the main man up top and we're signing a winger (hopefully two).

If Osmand is being signed to be one of two strikers, along with Idah, then I'll be right with you. That's not acceptable. But I doubt that's going to be the case. Either it's Maeda, Idah and Osmand or a new striker, Idah and Osmand.

Aye he tore it up for Fulham youth team. I'm not too sure what part of that you take umbrage with. Everybody has to start somewhere. If we were signing someone with his CV to be the new star striker, then it would seem mental. But we're not.

 

He get hold of your missus?

 

This is the 3rd choice young striker than BR has always talked about being ideal in his squad to develop.

See how it goes but id be shocked if worse than Kenny.

 

Didn't Rodgers allude to osmand being our 3rd option?

And that's not saying that maeda will be first but let's face it...didnt maeda start as striker and ange put him left wing due to his ability to 90min press?

 

It does look that way by his comments, although he did say they'll assess what the plan is in pre season..

 

I think we’ll be going for wingers, Daizen and Idah being the main 2 with this boy 3rd choice.

Daizen up front last season, I don’t think we’ll see anybody but him as the man for us up there. Especially with KT coming in.

Taylor on the left and mainly operating in the middle of the pitch Maeda LW was far more essential, as he would cover that wing. With KT there though, we can have him up front in the middle.

Unless we get an option come up for us we can’t ignore at CF, I don’t think it’s where we will look, it’ll be to allow Maeda to come off the wing play through the middle. With Idah as back up, Maeda able to move to the wings with Idah being able to take over and a young option as 3rd to develop.

BR talking about Osmand, and us getting him here when where he was wanted to keep him, think it’s under the understanding he’s not coming here for anything other than looking to play in the first team.

 

The bit I'm annoyed about is not signing a striker with some experience and goals under their belt at a comparable level. I think we genuinely really need that.

Idah is far too inconsistent, Maeda is needed on the wing until Jota's back and plus I don't really rate him as a striker (I don't get the impression Brendan does either), and this guy is obviously very young and lacking any experience at this level.

Idah will get starts because we spent £9m on him. But he will blow hot and cold and make us tear our hair out. You need someone to rotate in with him that is an actual striker with some pedigree. Kyogo would have been fine. A lad a couple years older with a decent record somewhere else would do. Doing well for Fulham U21s doesn't tick that box for me. After this guy has had a year or two on loan and can prove he can do it at a higher level, get him in the mix by all means.

If we don't sign a decent striker, 100% we will be whinging about it all season.

 

Callum Osmand has never played senior football but now the 19-year-old striker is backing himself to progress into the first-team at Celtic after signing a four-year deal. His former Fulham U21s coach, Tom Hounsell, gives The Celtic Way an exclusive insight into the mindset, journey and ambition behind the teenager’s bold move to Scotland.


Osmand joined Fulham at just 13 years of age and signed his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2023.

Last season, he was a regular for their under-21 side in the Premier League 2, scoring 10 goals and assisting four across 17 appearances. In 73 total games for Fulham's under-18s and under-21s, he netted 43 times. He has also played four times for Wales' under-17s, scoring once.

Hounsell, now at Wycombe Wanderers, remembers how Osmand converted from a winger when he coached him at under-15 level, and the player hasn't looked back since.

He said: "Callum has all the attributes to have a real impact at Celtic. I was his coach at the under-15 level, and he was a winger to trade. He converted into a striker and became an out-and-out number nine as he scored loads of goals.

"It was a natural fit when he became a centre-forward, and he has even refined some of his finishing from the days of playing under-15 football. Callum is a credit to the Fulham Academy coaches, who have refined and developed him over a period of time.

"He was eager to learn and improve, and he worked on that element of his game in order to better understand the role and profile of the centre-forward a little bit more. He has a superb work rate and his attitude to training is first class. He is the consummate professional, and he genuinely wants to hone his craft every day.

"Callum also possesses a ruthless streak in him as well. He loves competition, and he is at home when he is duelling against centre-backs. That helps bring the combative element out in him, and he likes to pit his wits against no-nonsense defenders.

"I love all of those certain aspects to his game that he has, and I love him as a character and a personality as well, and he was just a real pleasure and joy to work with."


A constant attacking threat
Whilst Hounsell stopped short of labelling Osmand a 'throwback', he does believe that the teenager is a typical old-fashioned style centre forward who will plunder goals for the men in green and white.

He said: "I hesitate to call Callum a throwback; however, he does possess genuine speed, which is really exciting, and he has a good, physical profile, and he has clever movement along the top line.

"Fewer young players nowadays are prepared to do that, and make those runs in behind, but Callum will do that unselfishly for the team and create space for others.

"He poses a constant threat to defenders, and that sets him apart and makes him unique for a striker of his age. There is a real hunger and tenacity in his game as he always wants to score and contribute to goals. I am excited to see how he gets on at Celtic




The moment other clubs took notice
Brendan Rodgers has noted that multiple clubs were keen on Osmand's signature. One of the breakthrough matches that put him on the radar came when he set two big records as Fulham's under-21s took on Tottenham Hotspur's under-21s in the 2023/24 Premier League Cup final.

The Welshman grabbed the headlines, bagging a perfect hat-trick in a stunning 4-0 win for his side. It meant he became the first ever player to score a hat-trick in an under-21 Premier League Cup final, and the maiden Fulham Academy player to score 30 or more goals in a season since 2013/14.

He was also nominated for Premier League 2's Player of the Year last season. Hounsell was his under-21 manager on that fateful night and insisted that it was a just reward for a player who had put in the hard yards even at this early career juncture.

Hounsell said: "That Premier League cup final was a great game for Callum, and it brought him to the attention of a lot of clubs. He is very good in the air for his size, and he has this knack of scoring and contributing with headers, which he did in that match.

"He has worked hard on his heading ability as well as his left and right foot finishes, so it was no surprise to me to see him score a perfect hat-trick. He has dedicated a lot of time to improving his game, especially with quick players, as it can be hard to have control and balance when you are on a football field in those moments.

"The final was just a nice reward for Callum as he has dedicated a lot of time and effort into his craft and becoming the player that he has become and the one that Celtic felt was good enough to sign."




Celtic a 'nice fit' for Osmand
Hounsell knows how hard it is for youngsters to break into the English Premier League first teams, especially for academy graduates.

That is why Hounsell is full of admiration for Osmand's career choice of opting for a switch north of the border.

Hounsell said: "It is really difficult in the EPL system for youngsters to break into their respective first teams, even with clubs like Fulham, where Callum invested a lot of years.

"He has decided that he wants to take on a different challenge, and he has done that by moving to a massive football club like Celtic and going to a new country. I take my hat off to him for that. It also gives you an indication of his own self-belief.

"In all of these moments, it is interesting to see how these young players step up and transition. He has all the tools in his toolbox to be a success, and Celtic should be a nice fit for Callum. The style of play that Celtic have and working alongside Brendan Rodgers and the coaching staff, on the outside looking in, it seems to be a win-win for Callum."



A player who can excite the support
Osmand may be a bit of an unknown quantity to most Celtic supporters, but Hounsell has asked the club fans to reserve any kind of judgement on the player until they have seen him in action.

Hounsell said: "Callum is one of those players who can get supporters off their seats. The directness and speed with which he plays may be an eye-opener to some of the Celtic fans.

"He will be a constant and real threat to defences, and he will cause problems for them. He will create many moments that will be memorable, and I hope he gets the opportunity and the rewards for making the move to Celtic. I pray that he makes a success of it.

"As a young player, it is probably harder for Callum as he is going to be judged on his ability to score goals, and that can sometimes come with added pressure. I think it's his mindset that sets him apart from the rest, and he will know that he has to grasp those opportunities when they come, but this is a player who I know can and will score goals."




The mentality to succeed
Hounsell admits that Osmand will fit right into the winning culture at the Scottish champions as it's already part of his make-up as a player.

He said: "Callum has a feistiness and intensity about his game, and if I am being honest, he thrives and relishes those moments and that will bring out the best in him.

"It is always a challenge for young players to forge a pathway, and they have to give themselves the best platform to build a career, but also give them experiences to learn and develop. This is a great opportunity for Callum to do that.

"He was not guaranteed first-team football at Fulham, so it made sense for him to try elsewhere, and I think this is very much Celtic's gain. He will enjoy having that kind of pressure of winning every game. He placed pressure upon himself over the years to score goals and meet individual goals and targets.

"Callum carries himself with enough self-belief, and working at Celtic under Rodgers should be the perfect environment for him to kick on."





Following in the footsteps of others
If you know you're history, then Celtic's recent past has been well stocked with players who have had previous stints at Craven Cottage in Fulham's Academy. Moussa Dembele, Patrick Roberts and Matt O'Riley, to name but a few.

Hounsell insists that if Osmand can emulate their success and hit the dizzy heights of that trio, then he will have been vindicated by his decision to join Celtic.

Hounsell said: "The recent list of players who have left the Fulham Academy to join Celtic is impressive. They are all top players in their own right who have all gone on and enjoyed fantastic careers.

"Callum will be in really good company if he can mirror some of that success. It is also nice to have those aspirations and understand that, having joined Celtic, he will continue to thrive in an environment that helps develop young players.

"I would love to see Callum go on and have the careers that the likes of Dembele, Roberts and O'Riley had."



Osmand is 'ready' for Celtic demands
Time will tell if Osmand turns out to be the surprise package of Celtic's summer signings. Rodgers has high hopes for the teenage prodigy.

The Irishman said: “We are pleased to bring Callum to Celtic. He is a highly-rated, talented young player. He has some real attributes. He’s a quick and powerful striker, and I’m looking forward to working with him. I’m sure he can be really successful with us."

Hounsell echoed those sentiments and can't wait to see Osmand strutting his stuff on the biggest stage of them all in the Champions League.

Hounsell said: "Callum Osmand is ready to play first-team football. Celtic will be another excellent development experience for him.

"Listen, Celtic have one round of qualifiers to negotiate, and Callum could all of a sudden find himself competing in the Champions League.

"That's why players play the game. They want to put themselves in the best situations with the best experiences.

"Celtic is a massive football club, and there will be huge pressure, but it also comes with exciting opportunities. I can see why Callum made the move, and hopefully, it is a nice fit for both the player and the club."