Former Wigan and Hull second rower Danny Tickle , who has missed only two games since joining Widnes , will be out for at least a month after being told he needs to undergo groin surgery . The goal-kicking forward played in 30 of the Vikings ' 32 league and cup matches in 2014 and has been an ever-present so far this season but will sit out Thursday 's trip to Salford and will not be back until after Easter . 'Danny has been carrying the injury for the last few weeks , ' Widnes coach Denis Betts said . 'It 's been affecting the way he 's performed . Danny Tickle will be out for at least a month for Widnes Vikings after carrying groin injury for a few weeks . 'He 's toughed it out but we need to look at him and do what 's best for him . 'It 's a huge blow for us because he 's been fantastic for the last two years but we 've been nurturing him along and now it 's time to bite the bullet . ' Widnes also be without Tickle 's second-row partner Danny Galea for the game against the Red Devils after he was concussed in Sunday 's 20-16 win over Hull KR , while winger Patrick Ah Van is out for an indefinite period after failing to recover from a head knock . Goal-kicking forward Tickle has missed just two matches since joining the Vikings in 2014 . 'Patrick has got some concussion issues at the moment , ' Betts said . 'We 're just being really smart with him . 'He got hit on the head in a game and had a bit of delayed concussion . His symptons have kept resurfacing when he 's been putting the effort into training so , under medical advice , we 've had to step him back and take our time with him . 'At the moment he 's in some kind of sabbatical . He 's sat at home waiting for his symptons to calm down . We 're monitoring him almost daily . 'When he 's ready to go , he 'll have to go through six or seven days of training before he 's allowed to be up for selection . That 's in the medical people 's hands . '
Second # # ##le ##igh with injury for ' the last few weeks ' Has now announced he needed surgery and will be out for at least a month . Tickle has missed just two games since joining the sharks in 2014 .