Immanuel Feyi-Waboso had successful surgery to fix a facial injury this week, meaning he will miss Exeter’s crunch Saracens clash but not England’s summer tour.
The wing was outstanding in his club side’s win at Leicester last weekend, which set-up a PREM Rugby play-off shootout with Saracens on Saturday.
It is a big blow to Exeter’s top-four hopes that the 23-year-old won’t be able to feature against the Londoners given the winner will seal the league’s last remaining top-four spot. He’ll also miss the play-offs, if Exeter qualify.
Feyi-Waboso came off in the second half against Leicester and reported soreness in his face which worsened in the following days.
He went for X rays and as a centrally contracted England player, it was decided between the RFU and Exeter that surgery was needed.
After going under the knife on Wednesday, England are confident Feyi-Waboso will be fit for their Nations Championship opener with South Africa on July 4.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss Exeter’s season run-in but not England’s summer tour
The star wing had successful surgery this week to fix a facial injury suffered against Leicester
That is good news for national head coach Steve Borthwick as Feyi-Waboso is a certain starter in his team if fit.
Exeter No 8 Greg Fisilau will also miss the Saracens game with the same issue as Feyi-Waboso.
Saracens, meanwhile, are at full strength for what could be their long-standing director of rugby Mark McCall’s last game in charge, if it ends in defeat.
Owen Farrell and Noah Caluori are ready to add guile and pace from the Saracens bench.
Leaders Northampton have already sealed a home play-off, with Bath and Leicester looking to follow them.
Those two sides meet at The Rec on Saturday but Bath’s No 10 Finn Russell is out with a calf injury that puts his place in next weekend’s play-off match in doubt.