STEVE Price outlined the next steps in Gareth Widdop’s recovery from the injury that will force him out of the opening weeks of the 2020 season.

The Wire’s new marquee signing picked up an ankle injury in training on Monday, only four days after he joined up with his new teammates.

He is expected to miss the first three games of the Super League season, with current projections forecasting him to return in time to face Toronto Wolfpack on February 21.

> OPINION: Widdop injury the last thing Wire wanted to be dealing with

Wire head coach Price says Widdop will not require surgery but he will not travel with the team to their pre-season training camp in Portugal next week.

“He just needs to get the fluid down, more through rest at present,” he said.

“We’ll know a bit more about how to proceed next week but he won’t be with us in Portugal.

“It’s just one of those things. These types of injuries can occur in rugby league.

“It was very unfortunate what happened to Kev Brown last year and we certainly missed him, but on the positive side for Gaz its not a serious injury.

“It’s a bit of an ankle sprain – a couple of week injury and we’ll get on with it.

“When Gaz is right, his combination with Blake (Austin) is going to be lethal.”