Celtic Striker Says Wing Role Is Fine: Will It Cap His Value?

Celtic Striker Says Wing Role Is Fine: Will It Cap His Value? Martin O’Neill has not enjoyed a quiet return to Celtic . The 74-year-old arrived on an interim basis before agreeing a permanent one-year deal, and his season has swung between dominance and disappointment. The Hoops lead the Scottish Premiership after a 7-1 demolition of Hearts, yet cup and European results have hurt. A 3-0 defeat at Ibrox in September ended their League Cup run against Rangers . Worse followed in the Champions League play-off round, where they blew a three-goal advantage against LASK and dropped into the Europa League. That competition began badly too, with setbacks against Ferencvaros and Benfica. Defensive frailties have not helped, which makes the goals of prolific summer signing Camilo Duran all the more valuable. O’Neill is still searching for his best team, with a hectic winter schedule leaving little room for failed experiments. Against Besiktas, the mood inside the stadium changed within a minute. Trailing, the Hoops sent on 20-year-old Callum Osmand, and he equalised with his first touch, 43 seconds after coming on. He then set up one of Duran’s two goals in a 3-2 comeback win that transformed the atmosphere and the team’s performance, and revived their European ambitions. What did Callum Osmand say? Osmand admitted he is still processing it all. “It’s a really surreal feeling still,” he said, adding that he has played little senior football and hopes these moments keep getting better. O’Neill has used him out wide this season, although Osmand arrived as a striker and still names that as his main position. He drifts wide even when he plays centrally, so he accepts the wing, wants to base his game around any of the front three and believes the flexibility adds another element. He enjoys playing there and simply wants to be on the pitch. “I haven’t played a lot of football, but these moments just seem to be getting better and better. I love the sort of feeling that I get from it and hopefully I can keep getting that feeling.” “If someone asked me where I play, I’d say striker, but when I play striker, sometimes I’ll drift out anyway, so I don’t mind playing on the wing,” he said, as quoted by the BBC . “I just want to base my game around any of the front three and I think that just gives me another element to my game. I really love playing on the wing as well, so wherever I can get on the pitch.” Should Celtic let Osmand’s versatility cap his value as a striker? GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Callum Osmand of Celtic runs with the ball under pressure from Emmanuel Agbadou of Besiktas JK during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and Besiktas JK at Celtic Park on November 05, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images) His flexibility helps O’Neill right now, but it carries a price. Elite central strikers command the highest premium in the transfer market, and a young forward pushed wide out of necessity dilutes his statistical profile, with lower expected goals per 90 minutes and fewer touches inside the penalty box. When clubs in Europe’s top five leagues scout the next big export from a developmental side, they look for specialist profiles. There is a footballing cost too. A striker’s value lies in vertical runs, pinning centre-backs and a ruthless sense of space in the box, and those instincts fade if he spends too long on the touchline. The wing should stay a tactical card, as the Besiktas comeback showed when a mid-game change swung the contest. The club’s sporting strategy, though, should anchor him as a central striker. Developing him into a clinical, specialist frontman protects his ceiling and secures the biggest fee when he leaves for a high-profile move abroad.