Aston Villa tell Bolton to pay up or never see Stephen Warnock again (after two weeks)

Since his arrival some two-and-a-half months ago, Stephen Warnock has featured consistently for Owen Coyle and Dougie Freedman's Bolton Wanderers sides. He has played in 12 of a possible 13 matches since coming over on a three month loan deal and has gone the full 90 minutes in all but two of those.

Warnock's time at the Reebok Stadium has been immensely successful as he brought much-needed consistency and a ball-winning spirit to what was then a struggling back line. Warnock featured against his old club, Blackburn, a week ago but missed Bolton's loss to Ipswich Town with what was an apparent injury.

Owen Coyle had apparently promised the defender that they would explore the option of extending the loan when it came to a close or even making it permanent when the initial deal expired. Warnock has been so far out in the cold under Paul Lambert at Aston Villa that he may as well be king crab fishing in Alaska.

A report from the Bolton News this morning says that Villa are unlikely to extend the loan past the middle of this current month despite the fact that it is a near certainty that Warnock will not get match time in a claret and blue shirt. Villa are however willing to sell him for to Bolton as Lambert looks to boost his transfer purse ahead of the January window. The 30-year-old left back is said to be rated at £2 million or so. Whether Dougie will spend or not, we will see.