For the second of our new regular features on the youth and reserve sides, we talk comings and goings with Paul Clement and Brendan Rodgers.

Almost a third of the season now passed, both sides have been making progress with some impressive results to boot, including Wednesday's youth triumph over Fulham after being three goals down, and the reserves' 4-0 defeat of Liverpool at the weekend.

Appearing for the second string that day was Michael Mancienne, before he departed on a two-month loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship.

Brendan explains the decision behind allowing the 20-year-old a temporary move.

'For us, it was trying to position him at the highest level we could. He has been outstanding since he has been back from QPR, and unfortunate not to get a run out in the first team. His performances with England Under 21s recently showed he was their best player over two games,' he began.

'We offer everything here in terms of talent and facilities but Michael needs to take that opportunity to play at a good level, the highest we can get him to, because rules mean he can't go on loan to a Premier League club at the moment, was to the Championship.

'So then, we need to consider the right club at the right end of the table. For us that is a club that tries to play football, it's no good sending him to a club where they kick from one end to the other, because when he comes back here he doesn't play that way, and so sending him to Wolves is a good move.'

Mancienne made his Molineux debut on Tuesday evening as a late substitute, and Rodgers confirmed that his parent club continue to monitor the defender's progress.

'We'll watch every game he has. With all the players when they are out on loan we are able to monitor their games so we can look at every moment they have on the ball,' he said.

'For example if Jack Cork played for Southampton, the day after we can look at the game on the screen and see his involvement, giving feedback on his performance.'

It is this feedback as much as anything that helps the players improve and evolve, a process for many that begins as schoolboys or first year scholars.

This season, the Academy has taken on 10 new youngsters, and Clement is impressed with the development they have made at youth level.

'Although they were the new intake of scholars they weren't all boys we didn't know. Some have been here longer than others, for example Frank Nouble, Tom Hayden and Aldi Haxhia had been here a good few years already.

'In addition, Sam Walker who we signed from Millwall about six months into last season, had about half a season here as a schoolboy,' he continued. 'Those boys were supplemented with some good talent from abroad, but the majority had been around training for a little bit which helps with integration into the system.

'Jeffrey Bruma came over here a year ago as a schoolboy player, played more youth team games than anybody, every FA Youth Cup game and had a tremendous year. For that reason he has been elevated almost beyond the youth team and has gone into the reserves.'

Of course the transition from part time to full time footballer is not without its difficulties, especially when thrown in with all the other adaptations needed with a new country.

'The other boys have settled well, it takes some longer than others, particularly the foreign players, because as well as adapting to a new culture off the field, socially, making new friends, living in digs and having to learn a new language, they have to adapt to a new footballing culture. For example the style of football in Italy is very different to here in England,' Clement explained.

'Fabio Borini is a fantastic example of that, it took him 12 months to make those changes and this year after the break he came back a different player, so perhaps we won't see the best of these boys until later in the season or perhaps the start of next.'

Gone are the days of when apprentices would turn up, train and then clean boots in the afternoon, or sweep the stands before going home, as the coach clarifies.

'I think the demands are high physically and mentally as well, we are looking at bespoke individual programmes for all the boys, where they have to do pre-training work, the session itself, and after that there are workshops or individual analysis tasks and programmes in the afternoon, ether gym or technical-based. We work them hard and set high standards.

'We are at a big club where the challenge of getting players through is high, so we have to work hard and maximise the time available to get the best out of all of them.'

Wednesday's second half against Fulham seems to have done just that, with three goals scored to reverse a 1-3 half-time deficit.

'We had a few things we needed to sort out at half-time, the attitude of the players and a couple of tactical things and the response was brilliant,' Clement said.

'At this level there are not many games in which you go 3-0 down and come back to win. It was a great turnaround and we learned a lot about ourselves.'

Rodgers too is continuing to learn about his players, and was delighted with Saturday's win.

'If I was to say we were brilliant it's not too far from the mark,' he smiled. 'Liverpool were very good up there in the first meeting, we weren't, the only game where we have been off the boil this season.

'But down here we were very good and played how we have been doing. Performance-wise it was strong and all the things we ask for from our players. We were tactically strong, our use of the ball was very good, and we created chances.'

The reserves now face Stoke City as they return to league action on Monday, while the youth team are at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.

They then fly out to the USA for a tournament in Newark on Monday, returning on November 10.

You will be able to read all about that in the next instalment of The Young Generation.

By Andy Jones

You can keep up with all the goings on at Cobham with Chelsea TV, featuring live reserve team games and Inside the Academy, at 6pm every Friday.