Henry Slade’s return to the Exeter side could make the difference they need to end their losing streak, says boss Rob Baxter.
The Chiefs have equalled their club-record run of five successive Premiership losses after Friday’s defeat at Newcastle and sit bottom of the table.
Slade, who had shoulder surgery over the summer, has been given permission by England to play in Exeter’s game with Harlequins on Sunday before next week’s Test with New Zealand.
“No single player is a cure-all to everything and you don’t suddenly put one player in and win every game,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“But I think without doubt when you see how we lost a couple of games this season, I’m particularly talking about our two home games, you do kind of think it wouldn’t have taken much more – just authority or calmness on the field – for those to have been, not comfortable, but they could have easily turned our way.
“So, when you look at it that way, that obviously puts a big difference on the perspective of the season.
“Would we have gone to Newcastle and played better with some points on the board? Almost certainly, so you could say there’s a big ripple effect there and that’s probably where we are as a group really.”
