Celtic striker Callum Osmand believes Hearts have what it takes to push the champions all the way again this season, as the Edinburgh side prepare to return to Parkhead for the first time since the dramatic final day of last season.
Osmand's late goal, combined with a Daizen Maeda strike, ripped the Premiership trophy away from Derek McInnes' side, who had spent 250 days at the top of the table. The 20-year-old raced from his own half to slot into an empty net, sparking a pitch invasion as Celtic sealed a fifth consecutive title.
Osmand's Respect for Hearts
Asked if he considers Hearts serious contenders, Osmand said: "Yeah, I think you always have to. Obviously, what they've done last season was amazing. They lost a few key players, obviously, but they brought in some good players and they're a really top side, so we can't underestimate them and we're just going to need to keep ticking away and hopefully we get a good result."
With McInnes now at Rangers, new boss Wouter Vrancken has guided Hearts into third place and the Europa Conference League group stages. A victory at Parkhead would see the league's top scorers cut the gap on Celtic to just two points.
A Different Challenge
Osmand knows the reigning champions will need to be at their best. He said: "I think it could be a different challenge. I think it's a tough game against them. Obviously, they're a really good team and you can't really underestimate any team in the league because sometimes they're all tough."
"But Hearts, they are obviously a top team and we don't want to underestimate them and go in thinking that. We should be working and hopefully we come away with a good result and we'll have to pick ourselves up from Thursday and hopefully we get three points against them."
With Celtic Park sold out, Osmand expects another red-hot atmosphere. He said: "That could be a hostile one. But, no, our fans, I think we saw that one's already sold out, so that could be a really good game. And, obviously, I don't know if it gets better than that last year, but it'll be good to play there again."
Osmand's Injury Battles
Osmand's famous strike capped off his first season in senior football, but his breakthrough campaign was derailed by a hamstring injury that ruled him out for seven months. After a full pre-season, he suffered another setback with an ankle injury in August.
Now, after making his latest comeback as a substitute in Thursday's 4-1 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon, Osmand hopes to force his way back into Martin O'Neill's plans. He said: "It's been tough for me. It's a frustrating one. The hamstring one was a freak one and then the ankle was a tiny little one that's like just an annoying one."
"No one is more frustrated than me and I just want to be on the pitch and I can understand the frustrations with everyone. I'm the one that will be the most frustrated out of everyone. But fingers crossed, I just stay on the pitch now. I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to stay fit and, hopefully, touch wood, nothing happens."
"I try to get myself in the best place possible. I think, obviously, when I had the long injury and I came back, I made sure I was ready, like properly ready, and that's the best I've ever felt. And I feel like, I was a bit ill through pre-season, so it probably didn't give the best account of me. But I just try to keep my fitness up and I feel like I'm in a good place now."
Competition for Places
There is no shortage of competition for places, with record signing Kasper Hogh, top scorer Camilo Duran and on-loan Chelsea sensation Shim Mheuka all vying for starting spots. Osmand said: "Yeah, they're all really good players, so it is a good thing. Obviously, there are a lot of games, there's a lot of rotation that's going to happen and as long as we're all ready and we're all fit, I think that would be the best for the team and we can all push each other."
"I think each one of us offers something completely different and, yeah, I think it's good competition, healthy competition and, like I said, if I could even come on the wings and stuff, I'm very open to that as well. So, to be honest, as long as I can force my way on to the pitch, then that's the goal for me."
Osmand's versatility could prove another weapon in his bid for regular minutes after he was thrown on at left-wing in Portugal. He added: "I'm comfortable playing anywhere across there because I'm on the pitch, to be honest. But, yeah, not that I've never played there, but I've rarely played left wing. And it's something that I still need to learn the ins and outs of. But I thought I'd done alright when I came on. And, yeah, I was just trying to be as confident as possible and just trying to forget about everything around me and just go and try and make something happen."
"But, yeah, it was a really tough game to come into. Wherever I'm needed, I feel like I'll just give my all to play there."
