SUNDERLAND footballer John Oster spent a night in police cells following an incident outside a North-East nightclub.

The 26-year-old Welsh International right midfielder, who is on loan to fellow Championship club Leeds United, was arrested with another man early yesterday outside the Studio nightclub, in North Road, Durham City.

Officers were sent to the scene when security cameras captured a fight involving the two men and another man who, police say, had declined to make a complaint and was only slightly hurt.

The pair were held at the city's police station for about 11 hours. Oster was cautioned and his friend was bailed pending further inquiries until January 20.

Lincolnshire-born Oster, who was bought from Everton by former Sunderland boss Peter Reid for £1m, in 1999, and had a spell on loan at Grimsby, is hoping for a permanent move to Leeds, having accepted he has no future on Wearside under Mick McCarthy.

Two years ago he shot Sunderland reserve defender Mark Maley in the eye with an air pistol in an incident the club described as an "unfortunate accident" at Oster's former home in Durham.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "Those arrested are a 26-year-old, from Washington, and a 29-year-old from Skegness, in Lincolnshire."

A spokesman for the club said: "Sunderland AFC does not condone any form of anti-social behaviour.

"The club is not in possession of the full facts about the alleged incident, so it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time."