Celtic's rising star discusses first-team blocks, why it's better than EPL and international football quirk

Celtic have spent £17 million combined on new forwards Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh as they bid to beef up their forward line for this season.

The duo are likely to lead the Celtic forward line on Monday night at home to Dundee, meaning 20-year-old Osmand - a summer signing himself in 2025 from Fulham - may have to bide his time for first-team chances following an injury-wrecked first season of his own at Celtic Park.

"At every club, you always have someone competing with you,” said Osmand. "It's good as it keeps us pushing each other to get better. You have to be playing better to get a game when there's more quality in the squad. It will be a good thing for all three of us to push each other.

"They are good lads. Kasper is a bit of a character - but he's a good character. He is a funny guy. He is a very confident guy. You can feel he's someone who's not worried about opinions. He knows what he wants. He is quite a loud guy as well. He's confident, he's not afraid and he's come in and is talking to everyone. He seems like a really nice guy and hopefully he does well.

"Camilo laughs a lot but I'm not sure he understands much! There's a bit of a language barrier there but he's funny guy, too.”

Osmand signed off last season with the final goal in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Hearts - a victory that landed them the league crown. It was a reward for the ex-Fulham youngster, who spent much of the campaign on the sidelines with a serious hamstring issue.

At Craven Cottage, Osmand was on the fringes of the main squad and he is relishing a far more prominent role with Celtic.

"I feel way more part it now than I did before,” Osmand continued. "It's tough when you come in and you have nothing under your belt. I felt I could have contributed before at Fulham, even when I was younger. I knew I could contribute up here but it's a case of getting that first opportunity to actually show that you are able to contribute. Once you have broken the first barrier, it makes people trust you more. I do feel more part of it now.”

Coaches help Osmand thrive

Osmand puts his improvement down to work from coaching trio Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus, as well as manager Martin O’Neill. "They have been the main part of it,” he said. "Martin came in for his first game and I played, so that showed some belief in me. It really helped me with my confidence.

"Shaun, Fozzy and Mick all speak to me a lot about where they see me fitting in and what they need from me. It has all been really positive and I feel a big part of the squad now. It's good to feel that you're wanted around the place and hopefully I can prove something this year.

"At Fulham, Raul Jimenez, Rodrigo Muniz and Carlos Vinicius were ahead of me. It was a weird one because [then manager] Marco Silva wanted a certain calibre of striker - a certain build. It was a different situation but it's always tough when you have big names ahead of you and you're young. It is just about showing what you can do. It's easier as the years go on.

"Certain managers want certain things and it's about finding where you are needed and where you are wanted. That was one of the reasons I came up here. Kyogo was here before and my goal was to bring what he brought. It would be amazing if I could bring anything near that.”

Now settled at club level, Osmand also has clarity on his international future. Born in Jersey, Osmand believed he was able to represent any of the home nations and had settled on Wales, where he was an under-17 internationalist. However, a rule change means he can now only play for England - the country of his mother’s birth.

"I spoke to people at Wales but that's a ship which has sailed,” explained Osmand. "The Uefa rules have completely changed.

"Being born in Jersey, I used to be able to choose the four home nations. Now it is changed and I can only represent England as my mum was born in England. I was in under-15 and under-16 camps with England but, as soon as Wales came in, I thought that was a better pathway for me. I swapped over and I thought that was going to be me for the rest of my career.

"It got stopped and now the goal has to be England. I class myself as an Englishman and the dream would be representing England. My mum will be very happy! My dad was also born in Jersey but he would class himself as English, too. My dad's side of the family are all from Jersey and my mum's are from the Sheffield area.”