8 hours ago
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Celtic captain Callum McGregor believes Johnny Kenny and Callum Osmand can ‘conquer the world’ after their Hampden heroics against Rangers on Sunday.
Kenny, 22, scored with a header to put Celtic 1-0 up midway through the first half, with his brace against Falkirk last week making it three goals in two games since Martin O’Neill took charge.
In only his second senior appearance, 19-year-old Osmand wrapped up the victory for Celtic when he scored to make it 3-1 in extra-time.
Both young strikers had been cast to the periphery under Brendan Rodgers, but have now been given a new lease of life under O’Neill.
McGregor, who struck from distance to put his team 2-1 up in extra-time, believes both players can go all the way to the top now they have finally been given an opportunity.
‘It’s always an opportunity for every player when they come in,’ said the Celtic skipper. ‘They’re working so, so hard to develop and get to the level with the first-team boys.
Callum Osmand is hailed by his team-mates after putting Celtic on easy street at Hampden
Celtic skipper McGregor says confident striker Osmand can 'conquer the world'
Johnny Kenny expertly heads his side in front at Hampden to make it three goals in two games
‘Johnny scored two during the week and you just know, when you’ve been around football a long time, he would have an impact on Sunday.
‘He has taken himself to another level in terms of status now, scoring against Rangers, so he’ll be brimming with confidence and the same with young Ossie.
‘There’s been times where he’s been out the squad but he’s a player who trains so hard every day and has a nice finish as well.
‘He’s one that’s just going to keep developing — and strikers with confidence can go and conquer the world.’
After Rodgers resigned as manager last week, 73-year-old O’Neill returned to his old stomping ground to take interim charge along with Shaun Maloney.
The win over Falkirk in their first game in charge was followed up by reaching a cup final in their second and McGregor noted the magnitude of the victory over their Old Firm rivals.
McGregor insists he knew Kenny would make a big impact in the semi-final against Rangers
‘It’s a big day,’ he said. ‘In a semi-final, if you win, you get a chance to go at the final. If you don’t, then it probably just heaps more pressure on what’s been a challenging start to the season.
‘So the slate was cleaned. The performance on Wednesday night was excellent and then to come and deliver on a big day on Sunday, it shows me how much talent and ambition is in that dressing room as well.’
McGregor is enjoying working under the new management team of O’Neill, Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus.
‘It’s a collective effort, always has been, always will be,’ he added. ‘The staff behind the manager have been so good this week just having that continuity of message and training level, everything, it’s all interconnected.
‘The manager can’t do it on his own, he needs his backroom staff in the same way the players can’t do it on their own. So it’s a real collective effort and that’s something I’m super proud of in the last week.’
