We all thought that was one down. But of that special breed, there’s three gone…

As the gaffer continues to run the rule over Lucien Mettomo, here's two more interesting names – Harry Worley and Matthew Connolly.

Both names would – old Ferret suspects – have crossed the manager's desk at some stage of the summer; probably before Mettomo's name landed in his in-tray.

Now, there's a few of you who will already know all about both lads and why they might have attracted the manager's attention; there again, it's always been a right-sider – so depending on which foot the kids lean on may have decided whether their names were crossed pretty early off his list.

But if Ryan Shawcross was the Manchester Unied answer to the gaffer's prayers, so it's probably time to meet Messrs Worley and Connolly – the Chelsea and Arsenal versions of the same prayers.

Worley, 6ft 4in tall and 18, made his debut for Carlisle United at home to Cheltenham Town on Saturday after Chelsea agreed a short-term loan deal for one of Jimmy Smith's reserve team pals.

Connolly, 6ft 2in tall and 19, has been at Layer Road since the summer after agreeing a loan switch from Arsenal. A regular captain of the Gunners' ressies, his name will have popped up on the radar – he had a loan spell at Bournemouth last season.

But he's gone to the Us – it's not that far from Arsenal's north London training HQ; within sight, almost, of Arsene Wenger's Hertfordshire manor.

The old geography argument goes out of the window with Worley as he packs his bags for the far end of the M6. Whether Chelsea would actually do a double deal with Smith already in the building is a moot point; the boy's ability to acclimatise to life outside the Premiership is another, after caretaker boss Greg Abbott whipped him off at the break in his League One debut as the cards and the tackles started to fly.

It was also rough justice on Carlisle's existing centre-half pair who had been happily drawing blanks already this season – but needs must when Jose' says so.

?It was a tough decision, but Chelsea are insisting Harry gets some games with us, so your hand is forced a little bit,? Abbott told the locals, clearly acting under orders in playing Worley – even if that policy almost reduced him to ten men in that 1-0 success.

?Generally with a Premier League club, they want their players to get first-team experience. But we also have to do what's best for Carlisle, and we'll have a look at how he kicks on during the week.?

The point, old Ferret thinks, is that both the Chelsea and Arsenal version of Mr Shawcross have already been farmed out for the autumn; Grant's chance of finding another Shawcross to fill the gap once the 'emergency' loan market opens for business this weekend slimming as they go north and east respectively.

Perhaps, the Liverpool or Spurs' versions are still in the system; if not, then that points the City chief one of two ways – to find something in the 'free agent catalogue' or else get in something more senior off the Premiership shelf. That's when you go back to see who now sits fourth or fifth choice in a top flight squad.

There again, free agents aren't always the hapless castaways some might think. D Dublin was a free agent this time last year; quietly training with Leicester City and waiting for the phone to ring…