NEWPORT County AFC will turn down offers for Josh Sheehan if his buyout clause is not activated in January, preferring the playmaker to leave on a summer free than suffer a blow in their promotion bid.

The playmaker has been integral to the Exiles’ push to go up from League Two, with his form earning a first Wales call-up and a cap against the United States in November.

The 25-year-old has thrived in front of the defence and losing him would be another crushing blow to County’s bid for League One after the loss of influential loanees Scott Twine and Brandon Cooper.

READ MORE: Transfer 'disaster' for Exiles

Sheehan attracted interest from Bristol Rovers last summer but there have been no offers since the window opened and nor would they be entertained by the Rodney Parade club.

They will be powerless to stop him talking to a club if a bid hits a certain figure but the Exiles will turn down sums beneath that, preferring to have a real crack at promotion.

“Unless somebody triggers his buyout then there is no point, especially the later the window goes because it would be harder and harder to get that right player in,” said manager Michael Flynn.

“Josh is a fantastic player and will be one that will be here until the end of the season unless something happens in the next two weeks.

“He will get his chance of being a free agent and having a look at what comes up, but that's not ruling out that if we go up to League One we get to keep him.”

South Wales Argus: INFLUENTIAL: Josh Sheehan's form won a Wales capINFLUENTIAL: Josh Sheehan's form won a Wales cap

County will try their best to keep Sheehan for 2021/22 but he is sure to be on the radar of clubs higher up the pyramid.

They may opt to hold fire until the summer when they could sign the classy midfielder on a free but Flynn has no fears about one of his leaders downing tools.

“It can cause problems when they are not fully committed or don't put the full effort in, but that is not the case with Josh,” said the manager.

“He works extremely hard day in, day out and I know there are not going to be any problems. He is enjoying his football.

“I never understand why players do that because you never know, in that last three or four months of the season you could catch somebody else’s eye and it could be worth an extra couple of grand a week or a move to the league above.”