THE FUSE

Exeter boss Rob Baxter hopes the ankle injury Immanuel Feyi-Waboso suffered while playing for England will not be too serious.

The 23-year-old was forced off at half-time of Sunday's 45-22 Nations Championship win over Australia at Twickenham.

It has ended his involvement with England over the rest of the autumn international period, but he could figure for Exeter again before the end of the year.

Feyi-Waboso will meet with a surgeon on Thursday to review scans on the injury before a detailed recovery plan is devised.

"The balance of opinion at the moment, both from ourselves and England, is that he's unlikely to require an operation," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"If it's a decent high ankle sprain, I think you're talking a minimum of four to six weeks really, but obviously it's just so difficult to know.

"Manny's the kind of guy, sometimes he might be running on this in a week's time and then that changes the whole timescale, so it's a little early to say yet."

It is the latest blow to Exeter's back three which has endured a host of injuries this season.

Campbell Ridl is out for most of the campaign with a knee ligament injury while Tommy Wyatt is a month away from fitness after an ankle problem.

Paul Brown-Bampoe returned to action in the Prem Rugby Cup loss to Bath last week having been out since heel surgery over the summer.

Exeter have been forced to play centre Zack Wimbush out wide in recent weeks, although Dallas McLeod has joined up with the club after his summer move from New Zealand to strengthen the area.

"That's kind of how it happens, you've just got to get on with things," added Baxter.

"We've just got to hope we get through this international period without any further injuries.

"We're obviously getting more guys up and running and getting good game time into them through his Prem Cup period.

"You've got to look on the positives of it, let's hope this injury to Manny isn't too bad and he can crack on in this period.

"Hopefully, Paul (Brown-Bampoe) will get right up to speed. If we can get Manny back in that four to six week period - who knows, it might be longer - hopefully we can start to pull things together a bit there."