Huddersfield Giants centre or second rower Michael Lawrence could miss up to three months of the new Super League season with an ankle injury.

Scans have revealed the 22-year-old England Knights international, who played in all but four of the Giants’ 32 matches in 2012, suffered ligament damage during Sunday’s 36-12 pre-season friendly win over Widnes Vikings.

Huddersfield’s head physio Dave O’Sullivan has confirmed that Lawrence will be out of action for between eight and 12 weeks.

“We’re gutted for Bruno,” said Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson. “He’s had a great pre-season and everyone was looking forward to seeing him build on that in 2013.

“It’s such a massive shame we won’t be able to see what he can do at the start of the season, because he has become so important to our team.”