Callum Osmand's goal sparked the infamous Parkhead pitch invasion on the final day and he's backed the Tynecastle club to challenge once more

Callum Osmand shattered Hearts with an iconic title-clinching goal in a dramatic final day finale.

And the striker reckons the Jambos have what it takes to push Celtic all the way again this season.

Derek McInnes’ pacesetters had spent a whopping 250 days at the top of the Premiership last season - and came within minutes of sealing a sensational first top-flight crown in 66 years.

But two late goals from Daizen Maeda and sub Osmand ripped away the league trophy on an incredible decisive day.

Ex-Fulham kid Osmand etched his name into Parkhead folklore by racing forward from his own half to slot the ball into an empty net - sparking a chaotic pitch invasion as Celts were crowned five-in-a-row champions.

It’s a moment that will live with the 20-year-old forever.

And as the men from Gorgie return to Glasgow’s east end for the first time since that fateful afternoon in May, Osmand expects another three-horse title race.

Asked if he considers Hearts as serious contenders, he said: "Yeah, I think you always have to.

"Obviously, what they've done last season was amazing. They lost a few key players, obviously, but they brought in some good players and they're a really top side, so we can't underestimate them and we're just going to need to keep ticking away and hopefully we get a good result.”

With McInnes now in charge of Rangers, new boss Wouter Vrancken has guided Hearts into third place and the Europa Conference League group stages.

A victory at Parkhead would see the league’s top scorers cut the gap on Celtic to just two points.

Osmand knows the reigning champions will have to be at their best to stop the visitors leaving with a statement result.

He said: “I think it could be a different challenge. I think it's a tough game against them.

"Obviously, they're a really good team and you can't really underestimate any team in the league because sometimes they're all tough.

“But Hearts, they are obviously a top team and we don't want to underestimate them and go in thinking that.

"We should be working and hopefully we come away with a good result and we'll have to pick ourselves up from Thursday and hopefully we get three points against them.”

With Celtic Park sold-out, Osmand expects another red-hot atmosphere.

He said: ”That could be a hostile one. But, no, our fans, I think we saw that one's already sold out, so that could be a really good game.

"And, obviously, I don't know if it gets better than that last year, but it'll be good to play there again.”

Osmand’s famous strike was a remarkable way to cap off his first season in senior football.

The English kid took a leap of faith by swapping Fulham’s Under-23s for the chance to break into Celtic’s first-team.

But his breakthrough campaign was derailed by a nightmare hamstring injury that ruled him out for seven months.

After getting a full pre-season under his belt, Osmand desperately hoped for a clean slate - only to suffer another setback when an ankle injury struck in August.

Now, after making his latest comeback as a substitute in Thursday’s 4-1 hammering by Benfica in Lisbon, Osmand hopes to force his way back into Martin O’Neill’s plans.

He said: “It's been tough for me. It's a frustrating one.

“The hamstring one was a freak one and then the ankle was a tiny little one that's like just an annoying one.

"No one is more frustrated than me and I just want to be on the pitch and I can understand the frustrations with everyone.

"I'm the one that will be the most frustrated out of everyone. But fingers crossed, I just stay on the pitch now.

"I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to stay fit and, hopefully, touch wood, nothing happens.

“I try to get myself in the best place possible. I think, obviously, when I had the long injury and I came back, I made sure I was ready, like properly ready, and that's the best I've ever felt.

"And I feel like, I was a bit ill through pre-season, so it probably didn't give the best account of me. But I just try to keep my fitness up and I feel like I'm in a good place now.

"I understand more of the demands and just as long as my body doesn't let me down, I feel like I could stay on the pitch, hopefully.”

There’s no shortage of competition for places though, with record signing Kasper Hogh, top scorer Camilo Duran and on-loan Chelsea sensation Shim Mheuka all vying for starting spots.

He said: "Yeah, they're all really good players, so it is a good thing. Obviously, there are a lot of games, there's a lot of rotation that's going to happen and as long as we're all ready and we're all fit, I think that would be the best for the team and we can all push each other.

"I think each one of us offers something completely different and, yeah, I think it's good competition, healthy competition and, like I said, if I could even come on the wings and stuff, I'm very open to that as well.

"So, to be honest, as long as I can force my way on to the pitch, then that's the goal for me.”

Osmand’s versatility could prove another weapon in his bid for regular minutes after he was thrown on at left-wing in Portugal.

He added: ”I'm comfortable playing anywhere across there because I'm on the pitch, to be honest. But, yeah, not that I've never played there, but I've rarely played left wing.

"And it's something that I still need to learn the ins and outs of. But I thought I'd done alright when I came on. And, yeah, I was just trying to be as confident as possible and just trying to forget about everything around me and just go and try and make something happen.

"But, yeah, it was a really tough game to come into. Wherever I'm needed, I feel like I'll just give my all to play there.”