Leeds United captain Richard Naylor is set to miss the club’s pre-season tour to Slovakia and could even be ruled out for the season’s start.

A hamstring injury caused him to miss the final match of last season, against Bristol Rovers, when promotion was confirmed with a 2-1 win.

Leeds-born Naylor, 33, has yet to join in pre-season football work, though he has been doing some running with the physios, and manager Simon Grayson said: “Whether he goes to Slovakia with us or not we will have to wait and see. If he stays behind he will do some football work with the kids and we will take things from there.

“It has been a gradual process with him since the end of last season but he is coming along nicely.”

Grayson added: “Richard will be club captain again next season, there is no doubt about that, because he contributes so much on and off the pitch which is why we signed him. If he is in the team he will be captain again on the field, but there are other candidates if he is not fit for the season’s start.”

United fly to a remote part of Slovakia early on Saturday morning for a week-long training camp and two friendly matches. Grayson plans to take 22 players with him, including summer recruits Kasper Schmeichel, Billy Paynter, Paul Connolly, Federico Bessone and Neill Collins. There could also be one or two trialists flying in from various parts of the world.

Max Gradel, who misses the first four games of the season through suspension, makes the trip because, as Grayson puts it, “he is an integral part of the squad and a chirpy character off the pitch as well. We want to keep him up to speed and treat him as if he is starting the season with the rest of the lads.”

Grayson has ruled out a return to the club for midfielder Michael Doyle who spent last season on loan from Coventry.