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Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is worried about the extent of Australia forward Tom Hooper’s knee injury.
The 25-year-old flanker was forced off early in the Chiefs’ 8-3 Prem loss to Bristol on Saturday and underwent scans on Monday.
The summer signing has been in impressive form in his eight starts this season since moving to England from Australia.
He was a key part of the Wallabies side in the Rugby Championship and played against the British and Irish Lions.
“It’s finding out the extent of the ligament damage and which ones he’s done,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“We’re hopeful it’s not too serious, but I’ve been hopeful before and been proved wrong.
“We’re just keeping our fingers crossed that it’s nothing too major, but we’ll see, it’s one of those ones that’s a little bit worrying at the moment.”
Baxter feels that if Hooper has injured his medial cruciate ligament he could miss 10 weeks, but if it is his anterior cruciate ligament it is likely his season will be over.
Hooper joins fellow Australia star Len Ikitau on the sidelines after the centre suffered a shoulder injury which could keep him out until late March.
“Both Tom and Len, they’re just pure luck injuries,” added Baxter.
“Len is in a big tackle contact where the guy’s knee contacts with his shoulder.
“Tom, there’s a fumbling ball on the floor and bodies are flying around everywhere and he gets trapped inside.
“They’re not ones we can kind of control, which sometimes makes it a bit tougher because there isn’t a way to deal with them.
“But at the same time, this is why you have squads, this is why young players get the opportunity to come through. We’ll just get on with things.”
