If you'll pardon the pun, Ben Chrisene's move to Norwich City has somewhat come out of left field.

The Canaries' pursuit of a left-back has been public knowledge for some time, with the departures of Sam McCallum and Dimitris Giannoulis hastening the need to add one to their squad.

When it became clear that sporting director Ben Knapper wanted two, the excitement was palpable in the yellow and green sphere. In contrast to what had been an eerily quiet transfer window, fans now had two vacant spots to ruminate on, the possibilities endless in Knapper's squad-building project.

But news of an agreed loan deal for Manchester City's Callum Doyle alleviated some of that tension, and seemingly took the mystery away. The left-back discussion started to revolve around Doyle, his characteristics and why confirmation was taking so long.

When Johannes Hoff Thorup delivered a cryptically optimistic transfer update last Friday, many believed he was referring to Doyle, with only hints and whispers of an alternative in the ether.

Then, almost casually, it was Ben Chrisene, the senior, natural left-back Thorup had lacked throughout pre-season. Supporter's recruitment doubts forgotten in a second, and they're still likely to be getting Doyle as well. But the irony to Chrisene's status as the missing link is that he has plenty in common with those he's replaced.

Ben Knapper made the left-back his second signing of the summerBen Knapper made the left-back his second signing of the summer (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

When it comes to seniority, he doesn't have loads of it. He's actually younger than Guilherme Montoia, the perceived juvenile filling in on the flank before another season with the under-21s or on loan away from Carrow Road.

He's also not much more of a natural left-back than Weylon Renecke or Kellen Fisher, both of whom have filled in but traditionally operated in other areas of the field. He started out as a midfielder, and was seen as one until being converted by Aston Villa.

But neither of those facts necessarily have to go in the negative column. Knapper's been open about his desire to lower the age profile, and that's what the majority of fans want too. Even the midfield background could serve him well, given Thorup's unique left-back role.

He's clearly someone the pair feel can develop into a key player for Norwich, given his four-year contract and the fee paid at a hostile financial time, and a brief look back at his young career exposes why.

He's already made 40 senior appearances, played in three different leagues and played for England's under-20s, all by just 20 years of age. He was viewed as a top talent by the same Exeter City academy that produced Ollie Watkins and drew interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich at 15.

More recently he became a regular for Blackburn Rovers, aiding their survival bid after joining on loan in January this year.

But for Chrisene it's about the future now, and fulfilling the huge promise so many saw in him at the start of his career. The good news on that front, according to Knapper, is that he's got plenty of room to improve. 

“Ben is an exciting young player with lots of potential and further room for development," the 37-year-old told the official club website, and in that sense the full-back feels very much like his kind of signing.

The proof will be in the pudding, of course, and what really matters is how the new boy performs on the pitch. But as far as the profiles recruited, City are sticking to their word when it comes to philosophy.

They've already signed a possession-ready, 23-year-old centre-back and a 20-year-old to join him on the backline, with another expected in Doyle. More than anything Chrisene's arrival represents the unification of direction in NR1, and few would have complaints about that.