Replicating what Daizen Maeda achieved in a Celtic jersey may be nigh impossible for those who follow him, but Callum Osmand sees no harm in setting his sights as high as possible.

Across four seasons at Parkhead, the Japanese winger's stamina and commitment to Celtic's cause on the flank assured him of legendary status at the club.

Although he's now moved on to Ipswich, Maeda keeps in close touch with the player who filled his position with aplomb against Hearts at the weekend.

And for the 20-year-old, the words of praise which came from a player who he hopes to emulate were a sure sign that he's on the right track.

'Daizen would be probably the main guy that I would try and take things from,' Osmand said.

'He messages me a lot to be fair. 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.'

Despite injuries restricting him to just eight appearances since joining from Fulham last year, Osmand's impact has also been considerable.

He netted with a flashing header in the League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

Soon sidelined with a serious hamstring injury, he returned just in time to walk the ball into the net against Hearts as Celtic clinched the title in extraordinary style.

Having netted a double when the Gorgie side returned to Parkhead on Sunday, he has a growing reputation as a player for the big occasion.

'I'm happy that you said,' he replied. 'Because that's a good thing at the end of the day. But I don't want to be known as just for the big occasions.

'I just want to be playing, make sure I'm injury-free. That is the goal now so I can keep playing and at least be available to give what I can give. That would be the goal, to try and do it week in, week out.'

While the months spent on the sidelines were painful in more ways than one, Osmand believes he still took a lot from them as an individual.

'It did make a big impact, but it did benefit me in ways,' he said.

'I learned more about myself and about the club, so I think that put me in a good place to come back into and know more of the environment and what's expected.

'I attended pretty much every single home game that I could go to so I was a fan for almost eight months.

'You sort of understand the expectations and what people want and what they want to see.

'When I play I try to do as much as I can to be attacking-minded and go and make stuff happen. I feel like you sort of feel it when you do something well, the crowd, you feel it lift you as well. I like that feeling so that's what I try and strive for.'