Glenn Loovens missed the final pre-season game against St Mirren as a precaution, ahead of next Saturday’s Championship opener against Bristol City.
Loovens is suffering an ankle injury and Carlos Carvalhal said the defender was still feeling pain so he was left out of the squad “to protect him” for the City clash.
Carvalhal also paid tribute to Tom Lees, after the central defender extended his contract to 2019, describing him as “one of the souls of the team”.