Bolton boss Neil Lennon is reluctant to bow to Carlisle United’s request that they make a loan move for Courtney Meppen-Walter.

The Blues told the Championship club that they must sign the defender on a temporary deal if they want to keep monitoring him.

Bolton, where transfer-listed Meppen-Walter had been training in a short trial spell, wanted to extend that arrangement instead.

But Blues manager Keith Curle put the “ball back in their court” by issuing the loan ultimatum.

Trotters boss Lennon said: “He [Meppen-Walter] has gone back to Carlisle, they called him back, so I’m not sure where we are with that one.

“If we do it’ll be a loan, but I’m not sure we want to do that at the minute.”

There has been no sign of Meppen-Walter returning to favour at Brunton Park this season with the 21-year-old not making the matchday squad for Carlisle’s first four games.

Lennon has been keen to assess the former Manchester City player’s potential but Curle made United’s position clear.

Curle said: “Bolton asked to extend their period of looking at him and that’s been rejected.

“I think they’ve had an opportunity to look at him, and now the ball’s been put back in their court. If they want to have a look at him further they need to take him on loan.”

Curle, meanwhile, has maintained that he will not abandon his principles despite Carlisle having shipped eight goals in their last two games.

The Blues’ 4-1 defeat at Plymouth followed the 4-4 home draw with Cambridge.

It leaves Curle with defensive holes to plug in time for Wimbledon’s visit this weekend.

The United boss said Tuesday's loss had highlighted certain faults in need of fixing – but also bemoaned bad luck.

He said: “You can understand if a team is slicing through you with intricate play or tactical awareness.

“But it’s very difficult to legislate against players slipping [as they did at Plymouth] and players not knowing where they are on the pitch and not doing their jobs.

“We’ll have to spend a bit more time on set-pieces and nail down exactly what the requirements are. But it’s not complicated."

On the goals scored by Plymouth after defenders lost their footing, Curle said: “Have I got to go to the extremes of checking footwear? I don’t think so. The players do their warm-up and preparation and get left to their own devices for five to 10 minutes.

“It’s difficult to coach the inevitability of a player slipping. You’ve got to deal with it.”

The United boss added: “It’s important we don’t get off the bus. There are lots of pleasing things, lots of pluses to take, and sometimes you find out about a team after a defeat. That’s what this is going to be about now.”