Josh Hodge: Exeter Chiefs wait to find out extent of full-back's elbow injury

Josh Hodge was forced off half an hour into the loss at Harlequins

Exeter are waiting to learn the extent of the dislocated elbow full-back Josh Hodge suffered at Harlequins.

The 23-year-old was forced off 30 minutes into the 22-14 Premiership defeat at the Twickenham Stoop.

Hodge, who has replaced retired Scotland star Stuart Hogg as Exeter's first-choice full-back, got a hat-trick in last week's 65-10 win over Saracens.

"It popped straight back with a bit of manipulation," said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter.

"Obviously we're not going to know the extent of ligament damage until we get it scanned, which we hope should happen on Monday.

"Then we can start to make an assessment around what's going on, whether it needs an operation, whether it's just conservative.

"But he's not in any pain, which sometimes is a good thing, sometimes is a bad thing."

Hodge's injury saw Tom Wyatt move from the wing to full-back to deputise, something which is likely to continue whilst the former England Under-20 player recovers.

"Tommy Wyatt's a very good player and it's a toss up with him and Josh which way around they play," Baxter added to BBC Radio Devon.

"In hindsight it was probably a good decision to give Ben Hammersley some time as that looks like that's going to be our back three potentially now settled in as the game finished.

"These things create opportunities for people, we've just got to keep getting better."