EXETER Chiefs have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new PREM Rugby season with winger Campbell Ridl set to miss the majority of the campaign.

The 21-year-old has suffered a significant knee ligament injury which Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter says is likely to keep him sidelined for between six and nine months – and potentially longer.

Ridl sustained the injury during the Devon club’s opening pre-season fixture against Scarlets earlier this month. He was slowing down to get a pass away when the injury occurred, rather than being involved in a collision.

Despite attempting to continue, the England Under-20 international was forced from the field a few minutes later.

Scans have revealed damage to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), as well as cartilage damage.

“It’s a pretty significant knee injury, it’s ACL with bits and pieces, which looks like cartilage damage as well,” said Baxter.

“You’re talking majority of the season. Good ones can recover pretty quickly and a really fast rehab can be around six months, and then you talk anything up to the nine-month period and beyond if there’s more complications.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a six-month one because of the other bits that have also been damaged in the knee, so unfortunately for Campbell it’s going to be relatively long-term this season.”

The setback comes after Ridl emerged as one of the brightest young talents at Sandy Park last season. He scored 17 tries in 24 appearances, including Exeter’s try in their Premiership final defeat by Northampton Saints at Twickenham.

The winger also scored back-to-back hat-tricks in Premiership Rugby Cup matches in February and finished the Premiership campaign with six tries in six appearances between March and May.

His absence is the latest injury setback for the Chiefs, who will also be without Italy lock Andrea Zambonin until November following a shoulder injury.

Baxter said there was never a good time for a serious injury but hoped Ridl could use his rehabilitation to continue developing.

“He’s now got that opportunity to really work on his physical development because obviously the challenges of being ready to play games every weekend are not going to be there,” he said.

Ridl is also studying at university, giving him another area to focus on during his recovery.

Baxter added: “If it gives him a period of really good development, getting on top of university studies, getting things really in line for next season then you’ve got to try and look at this as part of the development process he’s going to go through over the next five or six years of his career.”