Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has revealed he told midfielder John Oster he would be getting a new deal two weeks ago - in order to help him relax.

The Welshman’s short term deal expires in January but he has been offered an extension to that contract until the end of the season, a decision Warnock came to after the 29-year-old broke into the first team at the start of the month.

He said: “I told him a couple of weeks ago that we will be extending it to the end of the season.

“He hasn’t signed anything yet but I just told him so he could relax.

“Even before he had come into the team he had shown he had got something to offer the squad.”

Meanwhile, Leandre Griffit, who signed a six-month deal the same time as Oster in August, could still have a future at the club despite making just one start and two substitute appearances.

The Frenchman was out of action for a month with a hamstring problem and Warnock admitted he was still considering the 24-year-old.

He said: “He is doing alright at the moment and I haven’t made up my mind about him at the minute.”