Nike insist the design of their boots had 'nothing to do with'
Wayne Rooney's latest foot injury.
The Manchester United and England striker faces two months on the
sidelines after suffering a hairline fracture of his left foot
during the clash with Reading on Sunday, the third time since 2004
he has suffered injuries to his feet.
The first forced him off in the Euro 2004 quarter-final against
Portugal and delayed his debut with Manchester United after his
move from Everton.
The second happened just before the 2006 World Cup, giving the
player a race against time to be fit for the finals in
Germany.
Some have speculated that modern boot design puts players at
greater risk of foot injuries, but Charlie Brooks, head of
corporate communications for Nike UK, has told Channel 4 News that
the boot that Wayne had been testing was not to blame.
He said: 'He himself is personally absolutely confident, as we are,
that the boot had nothing to do with his injury.
'Nearly 20% of the professional players in the Barclays Premier
league this weekend were wearing this boot.
'I think it is a boot that stands up to all kinds of testing...and
stands up to on-pitch demand.
'I think what happened to Wayne is an unfortunate football
injury.
'When we were developing this boot we worked extensively with
Wayne.
'He was part of the development testing process...he went over to
our headquarters in the United States and he tested the boot
extensively over there.'
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