Boots To Be Given The Boot?

Last updated : 19 August 2007 By Editor

NOTW:

They plan to work hand-in-hand with Nike to develop a boot which will give him maximum protection.

Rooney faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines after picking up the injury against Reading last Sunday and misses today's Manchester derby as well as vital Euro 2008 qualifiers.

A United source revealed: "It was decided something needed to be done to try to ensure this doesn't happen again. It is too much of a coincidence that he keeps having the same injury."

An FA source said: "There is one theory that Wayne puts too much pressure on parts of his feet. He also tends to pull up sharply after sprinting and that adds extra pressure."


Norman Whiteside, a qualified podiatrist, says that today's boots are to blame for all these metatarsal injuries.

"I know quite a bit about metatarsals and I'd say there's not enough support in the boots. They're more like ballerina's shoes than football boots now, they've got lighter and lighter. Players want boots fitted like gloves, so they can feel the contact with the ball. Some of them even wear half a size too small, which is no good for your foot, because when you walk the foot elongates and it's got nowhere to go."