WIDNES Vikings coach Denis Betts has revealed Eamon O’Carroll could miss the opening three months of the 2014 season.

The 26-year-old Ireland international prop forward underwent surgery on a tear in his shoulder last month and joins new hooker Liam Carberry (broken leg) on the long-term absence list.

Betts rates them both 'eight to 12 weeks minimum' from a return to action.

“Eamon knocked it in the World Cup and aggravated it again in a pre-season game,” said Betts at this morning’s press conference.

“It was quite a tough one to pick up on scans and we wanted to rehab him instead of operate, but it got to the stage that we had to operate.

“Eamon will play a massive part in the year, the quality player that he is.

“He just now needs to get himself right with enough of the year to go to give us a big lift.”