Callum Osmand now has a perfect Celtic window to secure starting spot

Celtic forward Callum Osmand has a window to make the left side of the attack his own. The former Wales youth international made his first start for the club on Sunday and was excellent to help them win 7-1 over Hearts at home.

Osmand produced a clinical finish to score Celtic's third and also provided the fourth with an open-goal header. The 20-year-old offered something different on the left and connected brilliantly with Camilo Durán up top.

Osmand only ended up playing one half of football due to the fac the Hoops were four goals up by the break and Osmand has only recently returned from a hamstring layoff.

“He had a hamstring problem – I’m not surprised really because he’s not played that much," O'Neill explained after the game. "It was more precautionary than anything else.

“It’s just that I was worried. Tim (Williamson) the physiotherapist said just leave him out, and I think he would have said that even if it had been 0-0. I think he he wanted to continue for a while, but I think he saw sense, and I think he should be okay for for Thursday.

“He deserved the chance last midweek. I think he and Hassan coming on at halftime gave us that a bit of impetus in the second half in the match on Thursday, so they both deserved to start the game.

“Callum did great, he has a goal-scoring instinct, there’s no question about that. I’m not saying that wide left is his is his strongest position. He’s small, so leading the line might be a difficult might be difficult for him, but playing alongside somebody quite strong, I think he could do really well.”

Osmand's window

It's clear that Osman now has an advantage over Sebastian Tounekti, while Yang Hyun-jun, who was playing well there before the Asian Games, is a couple of weeks away from returning from a hamstring issue of his own.

Jota is getting closer to full fitness and is just a touch behind Osmand in terms of match fitness currently.

But in two weeks, O'Neill will, theoretically, have a free choice between Osmand, Tounekti, Yang and Jota on the left. Until that happens, Osmand could have the chance to make the left-wing spot his own, perhaps battling with Jota, and it will be interesting to see if he can take his chance. It may be the 20-year-old's best chance.