The Manchester United star suffered a third metatarsal injury wearing Nike boots during yesterday's 0-0 draw with Reading.

Rooney first injured his foot in action for England during Euro2004 wearing Nike Predators. The company remodelled the design to give greater protection to the front of the foot. Two years on, Rooney was at Old Trafford to launch the Nike Air Zoom Total Supremacy, to which the company said the England striker had given considerable input, says the Telegraph. Four days later, Rooney was carried from Stamford Bridge nursing a foot injury that undermined England's World Cup campaign. Yesterday, wearing another pair of Nike boots, he suffered again.

Factors such as harder pitches and more intensive training have also been cited for an increase in the injury as well as more lightweight footwear.