PFA chief Gordon Taylor wants new safety checks to be carried out on boots to guard against the type of wound Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney sustained. Taylor fears players are left vulnerable to such injuries by the prevalence of 'hybrid' boots, which on their underside have a tread that is the meeting point between studs and blades that can often become sharp.

He told The Independent: "Wayne is a very high-profile player and both these incidents could have ended his career.

"It's put it into perspective because if you get an injury to a top player it gets a great deal of publicity, but you wonder how many times it has happened lower down the scale where there isn't so much focus.

"I think the boot manufacturers are becoming more and more aware there is a problem but I think it's something that needs to come from football with regard to health and safety issues. This has happened enough times for it not to be coincidence. It's very dangerous for us to ignore it.

"This is something we want to pursue with FIFA. Manufacturers are willing to take part in this because in a litigious day and age it could be a problem for them in the future."