CALLUM OSMAND HAS REVEALED THAT MARTIN O’NEILL’S TRUST IN HIM SINCE RETURNING TO CELTIC IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE WITH AND WITHOUT BRENDAN RODGERS.
THE SUMMER SIGNING FROM FULHAM FAILED TO FEATURE UNDER RODGERS AFTER ARRIVING EARLIER IN THE YEAR, BUT O’NEILL PUT HIM STRAIGHT INTO THE SQUAD FOR THE MIDWEEK WIN OVER FALKIRK — HANDING HIM A 15-MINUTE CAMEO TOWARDS THE END OF THE 4-0 VICTORY.
HE WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE FIRE OF SUNDAY’S PREMIER SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINAL AGAINST RANGERS JUST FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE BREAK — AND HE RESPONDED IN DREAM FASHION, SCORING HIS FIRST HOOPS GOAL IN EXTRA TIME TO MAKE IT 3-1 AND BOOK CELTIC’S PLACE IN THE FINAL AGAINST ST MIRREN.
OSMAND ADMITTED THAT RODGERS DID PUSH HIM TO IMPROVE, BUT IT’S O’NEILL’S WILLINGNESS TO GIVE HIM A REAL CHANCE THAT HAS SENT HIS CONFIDENCE SOARING.
“FROM DAY ONE, HE JUST SPOKE TO ME AND SAID HE THINKS VERY HIGHLY OF ME,” HE SAID. “THE STAFF THINK HIGHLY OF ME AND THAT JUST GIVES YOU THE BOOST YOU NEED, REALLY. UNDER BOTH MANAGERS, THEY WERE BOTH PUSHING ME, BUT MARTIN’S JUST GIVEN ME THAT CONFIDENCE WHEN HE’S COME IN AND GIVEN ME THE TRUST, REALLY.
“THAT’S ALL YOU NEED FROM A MANAGER. IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO BELIEVE IN YOU AND THEN PUSH YOU ON. HOPEFULLY, THIS IS JUST THE START FOR ME, BUT OBVIOUSLY, I’VE GOT TO KEEP BUILDING AND PUSHING ON.”
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