Simon Grayson has banned his Leeds United players from tweeting after Davide Somma released news that a cruciate ligament injury would keep him out for five or six months.

Manager Grayson was angry that the South African striker tweeted the outcome of his scan before it had been conveyed to other key people at the club.

The South African international missed United’s Scottish tour, which ended with a 2-1 win at Stuart McCall’s Motherwell on Saturday.

Grayson said: “I am hugely disappointed by the manner in which the outcome of Davide’s scan has come out.

“It is club policy with any social networks that players are banned from leaking any information. It was confirmed on Saturday morning that he had done his cruciate ligament, which is a massive blow to the club and the player.

“It shouldn’t have come out in that manner. It should have been left for me to sort out, so from now on all players will be banned from using that sort of network.

It has caused too many problems for other clubs and other players.

“We had a strict rule and regulations halfway through last season and I wanted the news about Davide’s injury to come out in the right manner.

“There are some people who should have known the outcome of the scan before others. If any players break the ban from now on there will be major implications.

“We have players capable of stepping in but I am hugely disappointed for the lad because he has worked so hard and scored goals. It was an innocuous challenge in a behind closed doors last Saturday and we feel sorry for him but these things happen. He will come back fit and strong but what sort of time scale nobody knows.”