Oster in contract talks

Rejuvenated midfielder John Oster has confirmed that he's involved in talks to secure a new contract with Sunderland.

Oster signed for Sunderland from Everton in August 1999, in time for Sunderland's first season back in the Premiership - but made only 10 league appearances that season, 8 in 2000/01 and none at all in the red and white during 2001/02.

Only weeks after Howard Wilkinson's arrival at the Stadium of Light, Oster went to Grimsby on loan and spent three months there, returning shortly after Mick McCarthy's appointment - and hasn't looked back since, playing an influential part in Sunderland's efforts for promotion back to the Premiership.

Oster said, "This is a club that is going places and I want to be a part of that - we're looking at the top two.

"There have been a few peaks and troughs this season, but now we've started on another good run which we're looking to continue against Forest."