THIS time last year, Sunderland midfielder John Oster was resigned to leaving the Stadium of Light.

Former Black Cats boss Howard Wilkinson had recalled him from a three-month loan spell at Grimsby but, as Sunderland tumbled out of the Premiership, Oster was still unable to force his way into the first-team picture.

Fast forward 12 months and the 25-year-old is preparing for his 44th appearance of the season against Crewe on Saturday.

He is an integral part of Mick McCarthy's midfield plans, a favourite amongst the Stadium of Light faithful, and a valued member of Mark Hughes' Wales squad.

The turnaround has been remarkable but, with the Black Cats needing just one more win to be assured of a place in the play-offs, Oster's rollercoaster year could yet contain one final twist.

"I expected to be leaving the club at this time last season," admitted the versatile midfielder. "But things turn around quickly in football and as one door closes, another one opens.

"In hindsight, Sunderland going down was probably the best thing that could have happened to my career. It obviously isn't good when a team gets relegated but, for me personally, it's been a good year and it could get even better.

"Before we even kicked a ball this season, we knew we had good players. It was just a question of whether or not those players were going to blend as a team.

"A lot of the lads went in the summer so it was a difficult rebuilding period for the club.

"But everyone's done brilliantly this season and it's fair to say that we've exceeded expectations.

"Everyone expects us to go up through the play-offs now and that just shows you how much belief people have in us and how far the expectation levels have risen."

The next month won't just decide which division Sunderland are playing in next season - it will also go a long way towards determining which players are lining up for the Black Cats when the new campaign kicks off in August.

Oster is one of a number of players who are out of contract in the summer, and McCarthy's recruitment plans will be strongly influenced by whether or not Sunderland make it to the Premiership.

The boss is understood to be keen to keep Oster at the Stadium of Light, and the player has no desire to leave a club he first joined in August 1999.

But things are not that simple in the modern game, and the financial aspects of any deal will hinge on the club's likely income stream next season.

"I think if we go up then the club might be in a better position to offer the lads the contracts that they want," said Oster.

"But, at the minute, it's all been put on the back burner until we know where we're going to be next year and everything's at a bit of a stalemate.

"I'd like to stay even if we didn't go up - provided that everything's right. That's obviously for my agent and the club to sort out.

"If everything was right then I would like to stay but, at the moment, it's all very up in the air.

"I think that's the same for a lot of the lads.

"We've got a good blend at the minute and, if we do go up, hopefully we can build on this year and bring in some new faces to complement what we've got."

l Sunderland have secured an extension to Carl Robinson's loan deal that will allow the midfielder to play in the play-offs should the Black Cats be involved.

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