Oster - Palace move a gamble

Oster: Palace gamble

John Oster has admitted he has taken a gamble in signing a short-term deal with Crystal Palace.

The former Reading winger agreed a contract with Palace on Monday that will keep him with the Championship outfit until January.

Oster has now set his sights on earning a longer deal at Selhurst Park after turning down a move to Derby County earlier in the summer.

"It is a gamble but being who I am I wanted to prove myself here rather than take the easy option elsewhere," he told the South London Press.

"I also turned down a contract at Derby to sign here on a short-term deal to prove myself at Crystal Palace.

"[Palace manager] Neil Warnock has got me in and wanted to take a look at me - he's been genuine from day one which is all you can ask.

"He said he was impressed when I played at Dover in the reserve game the other week and he wanted to offer me something. He told me that finances are tight etc - as they all do - so I just signed the deal and I'll just take it from there."