Callum Osmand knows he has big shoes to fill at Celtic in place of Daizen Maeda, whom he keeps in contact with regularly.

Osmand made his first start in the green and white on Sunday, as Celtic hammered Hearts 7-1, and he certainly made an impression.

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He made life difficult for Hearts, using his pace and directness to charge at their defence. Camilo Duran set him up for his first goal this season; coincidentally his first since he scored against Hearts to wrap last season’s league title up in dramatic fashion.

Two minutes later and Osmand had his second, Duran once again the provider. Half-time came, and with the Celts 5-1 up, Osmand was taken off as a precaution after admitting he felt discomfort in his hamstrings.

He had fulfilled his task and showed Celtic Park just what he can bring in his new role.

The Jersey-born starlet admits that replicating Daizen Maeda is “a big hole to fill”, but he is eager to give it a go.

“Now you’ve said that, Daizen would be probably the main guy that I would [try and replicate] – he messages me a lot to be fair”, he said, as quoted by The Celtic Way.

Osmand says he keeps in regular contact with the Hoops hero, now an Ipswich Town in the English Premier League.

“Every time I score he’ll message me or every time he scores or does something I’ll give him a message.

“He’s a really nice guy so he would be one that I would like to mould it off, his running, his running power, and his runs in behind. That is something I admire so that would be someone who I would base it off.

“It is a big hole to fill for him. He offered a lot to the club and a lot to that position and across the striker position he was brilliant. Like the last seven games, I think he scored in every one. He’s been amazing so it’s hard to replicate what he brought.”

Osmand knows all too well the lasting legacy that Matt O’Riley and Moussa Dembele left at Celtic, both products of Fulham’s academy, like Osmand.

“If I could get even close to them two, I’d be doing an amazing job,” Osmand said. “I did speak to Matt before coming up. He gave me a ring. He was at Fulham and I spoke to a few Fulham coaches and managed to get his number and we had a chat.

“He’s a great guy. He was telling me about the ins and outs, basically about how crazy it is up here. Then Moussa, I’ve watched the majority of his goals in there. He was a joke.”

While it’s still early days in his Celtic career, Osmand has shown the attitude and ability that can take him far in Glasgow. He’ll be aware of the pressure to continuously deliver in big moments, but it’s a pressure that he will hopefully take in his stride.

The 20-year-old will be hoping he can take his domestic form into Thursday night’s Europa League showdown with Celta Vigo.

He’s previously spoken about Jota’s mentorship given his new role. With the Portuguese winger not in the European squad, he’ll be more than happy to lend advice to Osmand when required; who better to have as an advisor?