It's that time again as we examine the progress of the Chelsea players currently operating away from Stamford Bridge.

There are currently eight Blues plying their trade on loan with other clubs, seven in the Football League, while Peruvian Claudio Pizarro is in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

Since our last update at the end of September, Werder had suffered a dip in form, drawing two and losing two of their four games.

Pizarro though has not stopped scoring, notching twice in a 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund, and then repeating the feat in Saturday's 5-1 demolition of Hertha Berlin, taking him to seven goals in eight league starts.

In European contest, Pizarro has not yet added to the goal he scored against José Mourinho's Inter in the first round of games, and the Germans are currently fourth in Group B.

Back in England, there are four Chelsea youngsters earning their names in the Championship.

Last week Michael Mancienne joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for two months, making his debut as a late substitute on Tuesday as Mick McCarthy's men won 2-1 against Swansea.

At the weekend, the defender made his full debut at centre-half, as Wolves again ran out 2-1 winners against Welsh opposition, this time Cardiff City.

Mancienne has certainly impressed his new team-mates. 'The gaffer was having a bit of banter in the dressing room after the game saying he was like Beckenbauer! said right-back Kevin Foley.

'Michael did really well. He's certainly a calming influence who gets in and nicks things and he's also strong in the air. He got man of the match - he has certainly fitted in straightaway.'

Chris Iwelumo of Scotland fame also had kind words for the Chelsea man. 'He's a different class of player and we're delighted to have him on board," he added. 'He's come from a quality club and he's had the right coaching and he showed that.'

Jack Cork is another who has impressed, playing in his second season of Championship football after 2007/08 was spent with Scunthorpe United. This term he is with Southampton, and performing well.

In a young squad struggling for results, Cork is clearly trusted by his manager Jan Poortvliet and is one of only five Saints to have played more than 1000 minutes of league football so far this season, with one goal in his 11 starts and one sub appearance.

At the weekend, he played a crucial role as the side from St Mary's came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Preston North End, supplying the cross for the equaliser.

That still leaves the Saints in 20th position, one below Norwich City, where Ryan Bertrand has continued to impress under Glenn Roeder.

The left-back has played 13 league games for the Carrow Road club, but has found himself rested for the past couple, as Roeder explains.

'He has set his standards so high and I am absolutely convinced that when we look back on his career it will have been played mainly in the Premiership - whether it is at Chelsea or not I don't know yet, but I do think he is a Premiership player.

'He's 19 and at times he has been absolutely outstanding for us at Norwich but I felt the last couple of games he hasn't been quite himself,' the former West Ham and Newcastle coach said.

Finally in the second tier, Jimmy Smith has been with Sheffield Wednesday where he has started four times and appeared as a sub on six others.

He is presently halfway through serving a four-match ban after being sent off against Birmingham at the end of October.

There are also two Chelsea men in League One, with Lee Sawyer at Southend and Shaun Cummings with MK Dons, under the guidance of former Blues Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton.

Shaun, 19, has made 11 starts for the Dons, and has just served a one-match suspension after receiving a red card against Leyton Orient for a foul inside the penalty area. Up to that point he had been a regular at right-back.

Midfielder Sawyer has excelled at Roots Hall with manager Steve Tilson praising his work rate. The 19-year-old is unbeaten in his last nine appearances for the Shrimpers, after being defeated in his first three.

After picking up a bizarre injury on international duty, Ben Sahar has returned to fitness and impressed in Portsmouth's reserves.

He marked his comeback with a goal against Aston Villa and now wants to make his mark on the first team.

'It was a good chance to get through 90 minutes after coming back from injury a couple of weeks ago.

'I needed 11 stitches in my left knee. I slid on the pitch and landed on the sprinkler system. I was lucky to only have been out two weeks because it could have been a lot worse,' he explained.