Veteran GIANTS forward Steve Johnson will have a delayed start to pre-season training after rupturing a tendon in his thumb.

Johnson, who celebrated his wedding in Sydney on Friday, will have surgery on his left-hand thumb early next weekend and will remain in a cast for six weeks.

The 33-year-old suffered the injury on Thursday reaching for his phone in a bag.

“While this is a setback for Steve’s pre-season program, he will return to full training in three months and be ready to go for round one,” said GIANTS General Manager of Football, Wayne Campbell.

“This is certainly one of the more unusual injuries but Steve is a professional and coming into his 16th pre-season, we have no doubt he knows how to get himself ready for the season proper.

“While he won’t be able to participate in full training for a few months, he’ll still be able to work hard on building his fitness base throughout the pre-season.”

The GIANTS’ 1-4 year players return to training on Monday, November 21 while the club’s newest draftees, including former Richmond star Brett Deledio, commence training on Monday November 28.The remainder of the group - including Johnson - return to the club on December 5.