Dion Rankine: Chelsea loanee relishing Exeter City return

Dion Rankine has not played since he limped off at Burton Albion on 2 September

Exeter City's Chelsea loanee Dion Rankine says he is delighted to finally be able to return to the club.

The 21-year-old has been out for almost three months with a hamstring injury during which Exeter have dropped from the top of League One to 20th place.

He came on as a substitute in the EFL Trophy win over Swindon on Tuesday - his ninth appearance for the Grecians.

"It's the longest I've ever been without football, so I've been pulling my hair out," Rankine said.

"It's been literally the only injury I've had, so it's been a new experience for me, but I'm glad to finally get over it and hopefully get back stronger.

"It's been pretty frustrating, I felt really powerless because I was back at Cobham, so it was really frustrating to not play my part and help, but I'm happy to be back and hopefully we can kick on now," he added to BBC Radio Devon.

Rankine's time at Exeter is the first experience he has had of senior league football, having played for Chelsea's academy in the EFL Trophy in the previous three seasons as well as the Blues' under-23 side.

"It's been a really great experience for me so I'm really enjoying it," Rankine added.

"It's so important to play men's football because you can play under-23s but it's completely different to the men's game.

"It's really important for me to get out there and get minutes and show what I can do."

While Rankine has yet to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea he still harbours hopes of one day running out at Stamford Bridge - despite the big spending of the Premier League club this season and the high number of talented young players in their academy.

"It's a great way to start my journey, everyone there, coaches, team-mates, it's been amazing," he said.

"It's just developing as a player and hopefully working your way up through the ranks.

"You see how many people make it and how many people don't, but you want to be that one or two players that push through and kick on."