The news that Sam Hutchinson has had to retire from football yesterday has brought into sharp focus the talent available in Chelsea’s centre-back ranks.
Hutch was a centre-back - he has the same gait as a young John Terry - played like John Terry and, in time, was earmarked to replace John Terry.
Sadly for him and Chelsea fans alike that won’t happen now.
So what of young Michael Mancienne?
A year older that Hutchinson, at 22, he seems to be a player adrift at Chelsea.
Once deemed the new John Terry or at least a new Ricardo Carvalho, Mancienne seems to be in limbo.
With Carvalho gone to Real Madrid - it’s widely expected that Alex and Ivanovic will vie to be Terry’s long-term partner.
Mancienne is out in the cold.
Chelsea has even promoted new Dutch international Jeffery Bruma ahead of the promising England centre-back.
West London-born Mancienne has being farmed out on loan to the likes of QPR and Wolves in recent years.
But he’s out of the picture at Chelsea.
At a time when the England first team is in need of reshaping and rejuvenating, Mancienne could have expected to be part of Chelsea’s first-team squad by now with half an eye looking at a return to the England fold.
My sources at SW6 suggest that Chelsea are willing to offload Michael but want to sell him rather than loan him.
Chelsea will loan fringe players to help them develop as players - Chelsea feel that Michael has achieved all that and is now ready for first-team action - just not ahead of Alex, Iva, JT and Bruma.
What they want is for Wolves to come back with a sensible offer for the player who can play anywhere across the back-four and in midfield.
That versatility is what Wolves boss Mick McCarthy likes. But Wolves don’t want to cough up the cash Chelsea want - they want another season-loan deal.
So poor old Michael is left dangling in-between.
At some point soon - either club is going to have to concede defeat - hopefully it’s Chelsea and Michael can get on to do what he wants and that is to play football.