Do Celtic have enough goals in them to win the Premiership title?
So far, the signs have suggested no, and you know how big Celtic’s problems are when fans are eagerly awaiting Callum Osmand’s return to the pitch.
Osmand has been out of action since November after being handed his debut under Martin O’Neill, including scoring against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
Yet, pinning hopes on Osmand to suddenly provide that elusive goalscoring spark speaks to a much wider issue at the club – a point Peter Grant was keen to highlight.
“But this is a kid that wasn’t even getting a strip on,” said Grant. “He was playing for the B team under Brendan Rodgers.
“If you are hanging your hat on Callum Osmand coming back,” said Grant. “He did terrific in the couple of games he came on. Scored the goal (against Rangers), obviously.
“But this is a kid that wasn’t even getting a strip on. He was playing for the B team under Brendan Rodgers – It’s also an indictment of where we are with the other boys.”
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Callum Osmand call further exposes Celtic’s goalscoring problems
Don’t get it twisted, Osmand looked and played like a breath of fresh air during his few games in a Celtic shirt.
But the fact of the matter is that he is only 20, and he isn’t going to be the difference between Celtic winning the Premiership title or falling flat on their face.
As Grant pointed out on Go Radio, the more senior stars need to step up, and there is an obvious answer to these issues in Kelechi Iheanacho.
However, given Iheanacho’s fitness concerns and inability to play 90 minutes, Grant stated that O’Neill needs to use the Nigeria star carefully and wisely.
The Hoops hero pointed towards Celtic’s nightmare defeat to St Mirren in the League Cup final under Wilfried Nancy, and how Iheanacho being subbed off with an injury started their decline.
So, does that very same man start against St Mirren for the Scottish Cup semi-final at the weekend?
“If you are hanging your hat on Callum Osmand coming back,” said Grant. “He did terrific in the couple of games he came on. Scored the goal (against Rangers), obviously.
“And everybody talks about how good Brendan was. He knows the coaching side. But he wasn’t even travelling with them, so we have to be careful on that one. Even with the young man.
“It’s also an indictment of where we are with the other boys. You are looking at Iheanacho. Fit, then he can score goals.
“But the problem Martin is going to have is whether to start him, because then you would have to take him off. Guarantee, you would have to take him off.
“The last time they did that was unfortunately against St Mirren in the final. He started the game fantastically well. The team was doing well with him on the pitch – and then the game completely turned, and St Mirren ran over the top of Celtic.
“It just shows how important he is. I think Martin made the right decision by keeping him on the bench for the weekend and bringing him on because, yet again, he looked more dangerous when he came on.”
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