Naylor has taken over as captain from the departed Frazer Richardson

Leeds United manager Simon Grayson says he will not be rushing captain Richard Naylor back from his back injury.

The central defender had an operation last month and has yet to feature in the club's pre-season campaign.

Grayson told Radio Leeds: "He's still doing rehab and it's going to be touch-and-go but I would rather him miss the first week or two than six or eight.

"We've got competition for places there and people are stepping up to achieve their target of keeping clean sheets."

He added: "Back injuries are obviously sore areas and you don't want to rush people back, so we'll do everything to try and get him back but we won't over-do it."

New signing Patrick Kisnorbo started in Naylor's place in the centre of defence in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Newcastle United, and Grayson was happy with how his new recruit has settled into the side.

"He's doing well - he's got a good relationship with Rui [Marques] at the moment.

"We're still trying to nurse his way through 90 minutes and obviously he got to 65 minutes this evening.

"He's everything that I expected of him when I signed him - a leader, he organises people and he wants to defend which is what I want."

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