Slade return could give Exeter winning edge - Baxter
Henry Slade has not played for Exeter since the final day of last season
- Published
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 ´óÏó´«Ã½ 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."
Baxter says he and England boss Steve Borthwick have had discussions over Slade's involvement against Harlequins.
The 31-year-old centre spent the first part of the week with England at their training camp in Spain and has returned to Exeter to prepare for Sunday's match.
Baxter says there is no set amount of game time earmarked for Slade, with Exeter making a judgement based on how Sunday's match goes.
The match will be Slade's first action since the loss to the All Blacks in Auckland in mid-July.
"Both Steve and I knew Sladey wanted to play. Obviously, from England's perspective they'd obviously feel more comfortable if he has some game time, we're obviously keen for him to play, but we're also keen to help Sladey get the prep right that he needs," added Baxter.
"He'd end up going into the England camp potentially playing anyway, regardless of this scenario, so Steve and I just talked through the scenarios of what could make it work for both of us.
"Obviously, if Henry's involved on Sunday he has a short turnaround to England's game which means he has limited training on Monday."