Football: That was the weekend that was: Missing... making it... and mi staken

Francesco Sanetti

Sheffield Wednesday

Signed by Ron Atkinson on a free transfer from Genoa, where he was playing as an amateur, the 20-year-old Rome-born striker marked his first team debut against Aston Villa last May with a memorable goal but has not convinced Danny Wilson of his potential, despite Wednesday's needs for a striker. Yet to start a match this season, last appearing on 31 December.

Anthony Gardner

Port Vale

Every manager dreams of centre-backs who are both big and quick and at 6ft 5in, Vale's England youth international has both qualities in abundance. Strong and brave as well as commanding in the air, the Stafford-born youngster has been timed at 21.9sec over 200 metres, barely two and a half seconds slower than world record pace.

Ever wondered what happened to chirpy pop warbler David Essex? Alive and well and coaching at Coventry, according to one recent eye-witness. Or could it have been ex-Liverpool defender and one-time Scunthorpe manager Richard Money?