Shaun Maloney’s knowledge of Callum Osmand through his work as Pathways manager was the key to the young striker emerging as an early stand-out under the incoming interim management team of Martin O’Neill and Maloney following the shock ‘resignation’ of Brendan Rodgers a week past on Monday.
Maloney had initially looked at organising a loan for the former West Ham u21 striker who yesterday spoke to Conor Spence from The Celtic Star at the official opening of the new Celtic Flagship store in Glasgow city centre (junction of Queen St and Argyle St) but young Callum wanted to remain at the club to fight for his place.
That self-belief would stand him in good stead when he was rather unexpectedly called into the squad for the match against Falkirk last midweek as the O’Neill and Maloney combo got underway.
Maloney had no doubts that Osmand was going to prove his judgement right.
“He’s definitely ready for this opportunity,” the Celtic coach said in an interview with the club’s channel, Celtic TV.
“I think when we’re discussing the bench and between him and Shin – and Shin’s definitely got attributes as well that can help his team – but Stephen’s (McManus) worked with Callum. We’ve all seen him now train and he’s now getting to a point where you can’t really hold him back. And then it’s how the boy takes the actual opportunity.
“I knew with Martin coming through Tuesday night when I met him for dinner to go through the squad and the players, I knew he would love Callum.
“He’s the exact type of striker that the manager would like. You can sense that sort of bond between the manager and Callum already, that he feels his trust.”
There no doubt that the change in the managerial team – leaving aside the rights and wrongs of how it all came about – has galvanised Celtic and has transformed the season from one of frustration through underwhelming performances and results into one more enjoyable for the Celtic support.
Back-to-back wins against Falkirk and theRangers have put the spring back into Celtic’s step and smiles back on the faces of the supporters with Celtic scoring freely once more with a much more attacking style of play.
Maloney said about the changes he along with Martin implemented. “We’ve made slight changes in terms of anything tactical. I mean really slight. Probably the biggest one is the mentality to try and hurt the team from behind, run more from the field and the wide players. But again, these are things that sometimes you just have to remind them of.
“I’ve watched this team for four or five years and when they’re at their best, they’re a hell of a team,” Maloney added. The full interview is available to subscribers on Celtic TV.
🗣️ “I’ll forever be grateful for what Martin’s done for me. Anything I can do to help him, I’ll do my best.”
Interim coach Shaun Maloney chats to #CelticTV ahead of Thursday’s #UEL clash 🇩🇰👇
Watch in full on https://t.co/yBgDKx9r33 📺@CelticFC | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/qXuaro3FCX
— Celtic TV (@CelticTV) November 4, 2025
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There’s no denying that young Osmand has been the player that has benefited most, since Rodgers departed.
In fact every player seems to have benefited, with a huge upturn in player performance levels, with possibly only scales remaining consistent at present imo?
Would like to think it’s a time to be looking forward, moreso than looking backwards over events this season to date.
With a far better feel good factor surrounding our club now, it’s becoming more damming upon Rodgers involvement in the events that took place imo?
Agreed with maloney, that not huge changes have actually taken place, regarding team set up.
Yet the results in mentality and approach are completely different.
As to why?
Couldn’t care less any longer, as finally enjoying the return of our team, that’s been to long in waiting.