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.”
*”Osmand’s Bold Move: Hounsell Praises Youngster’s Bravery in Pursuing Celtic Dream”*
In a league dominated by seasoned pros, breaking into the English Premier League’s first team can be a daunting task, especially for academy graduates. But Callum Osmand has taken a different path, opting for a switch to Celtic FC.
According to Hounsell, Osmand’s decision is a testament to his determination and ambition. “I know how hard it is for youngsters to break into the English Premier League,” Hounsell says. “Osmand’s choice to join Celtic shows he’s willing to take risks and seize opportunities.”
Hounsell’s admiration for Osmand’s career move highlights the challenges young players face in the highly competitive world of professional football. Osmand’s decision to join Celtic could be the key to unlocking his full potential and achieving his dreams.
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