by Gary Croft following his move to Blackburn Rovers for £1 million a year earlier. He had only played twenty-six times in all competitions, scoring four goals upon his departure. Everton The Mariners sold Oster to Everton for £1.5 million in 1997, aged only 18 and having played only 25 matches. It transpired that he had made the wrong move though, as he was rarely utilised in his favoured winger's role, in a 4–4–2 formation. Oster scored three times during his spell at Everton; once in the league against Barnsley, once in the League Cup against Scunthorpe United and once in the FA Cup against Coventry City. Sunderland Oster moved to Sunderland for a fee in excess of £1 million, but again failed to find regular form. His low point at the club was when he was involved in an incident that ended the career of reserve player Mark Maley by accidentally shooting him in the eye with an air rifle. While at Sunderland, during the 2002–2003 season, he spent five months back on loan with his former club Grimsby Town. He enjoyed two fruitful and productive spells with the club during that season, but despite this his goals and performances could not save The Mariners from relegation, as the club struggled to stop a slide down the Football League ladder. Oster was released by Sunderland in January 2005, shortly after returning to the Black Cats in disgrace from a loan at Leeds United, where he scored once against Millwall. There was little doubt that Grimsby would have liked Oster back but could not afford him and their financial position and reduced league status made it an unattractive option for the player. Burnley Following a short spell at Burnley, where he scored once against Coventry, Oster joined Reading on 2 August 2005. Reading Oster made his debut for Reading against Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 August 2005 as a substitute. In January 2007, he extended his contract at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2008. He notched his first Premier League goal in nearly 10 years against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium where the Royals were defeated for the first time in 2007, 2–1. After a couple of years as a squad player with the Royals, including a number of Premier League sub appearances, he was released by Reading following their relegation from the Premier League, on 16