NEWPORT County AFC are poised to sign Cardiff City midfielder Sam Bowen – son of Exiles favourite Jason.

The 21-year-old has been lined up on a permanent deal to boost the midfield following the departures of loanees Jake Cain, Finn Azaz and Ollie Cooper.

Bowen made five appearances for the Bluebirds last season after starting in the Carabao Cup clash with Premier League Brighton.

He featured in the Championship fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Reading and Fulham in the autumn before falling down the pecking order.

Bowen suffered a foot injury and then there was a change of management with Mick McCarthy replaced by Steve Morison.

The midfielder is now poised to drop down to League Two to get regular football and push on in his career at senior level.

He will be reunited with County boss James Rowberry, who left his role as Cardiff's first team coach to become manager in Newport in mid-October.

South Wales Argus: Jason Bowen in action for CountyJason Bowen in action for County

Creative midfielder Jason Bowen was a County hero when playing in the Conference South between 2004 and 2008.

He scored 55 goals in 172 appearances in amber and won the FAW Premier Cup in his last season before reluctantly moving to Llanelli.

The Exiles are busy in the recruitment market after falling short in their League Two promotion push with the transfer window officially opening on Friday, June 10.

Rowberry revealed before the end of the season that a number of Premier League and Championship clubs had been in contact with the club about taking promising prospects on loan after being impressed with the progress made by Cain, Azaz and Cooper.

The manager also said he is keen to sign defender Josh Pask on a permanent deal after he spent the second half of the campaign on loan from Coventry. The Sky Blues released him this week.

County have 12 senior players under contract for next season – goalkeepers Joe Day and Nick Townsend, full-backs Cameron Norman and Aaron Lewis, central defenders Mickey Demetriou, James Clarke and Priestley Farquharson, defender/midfielders Matty Dolan and Scot Bennett, midfielders Robbie Willmott and James Waite and forward Lewis Collins.

Strikers Dom Telford and Courtney Baker-Richardson have been offered new deals with Rowberry targeting a 22-man first team squad.

Youngsters Joe Woodiwiss and Lewys Twamley, a defender and midfielder respectively, are on development squad deals while goalkeeper Evan Ovendale, right-back Harrison Bright and midfielder Jack Karadogan have signed their first professional contracts.