David Moyes has suggested that hard pitches could be causing injury to players.

The Everton boss suggested that harder surfaces at new training grounds and stadia could be a problem for clubs across the country.

But he explained that Everton's Finch Farm facility wasn't a factor in Mikel Arteta's niggling injury problems.

"I think Mikel had his before that (the move to Finch Farm)," Moyes told evertonfc.com "But we know here our training pitches are quite firm. I think a lot of training pitches and stadium pitches are like that. There aren't the mud-baths of the past. I think that could be having an effect on some players."

Earlier this week Alan Curbishley said he believed several of his players had suffered for that very reason.

"I have spoken with Alan about it and he has had a few injuries that he thinks he can put down to harder training grounds," said Moyes.

We have got a new training ground here where the pitches are quite firm, but Mikel had that before he came here."