Everton manager David Moyes believes football boots are to blame for the recent outbreak of metatarsal injuries being suffered by the Premiership’s top footballers.

Emile Heskey (Nike Air Legend), Xabi Alonso (Adidas Predator Absolute) and Daniel Agger (Adidas Predator Absolute) are the most recent players to suffer metatarsal injuries, whilst Wayne Rooney (Nike Total 90 Laser), Steven Gerrard (Adidas Predator Absolute) and David Beckham (Adidas Predator Absolute Globe) have all suffered the same fate.

Everton have not escaped lightly with Australian midfielder Tim Cahill breaking a metatarsal after landing awkwardly in his Umbro X Boot III in a preseason game against Werder Bremen.

Scot Moyes has stated he is “no expert” but believes modern lightweight football boots are definitely a factor in the increase in foot injuries.

The former Preston manager went on to say: “I might get sued by one of the big companies if I say, but I think it’s a big part of it. Players can now pull their boots on like slippers and that did not used to be the case.”

Meanwhile Tim Cahill has had new football boots made to help prevent a recurrence of his metatarsal injury.

He said: “I don’t want to put my body at risk when it is such an innocuous thing that happened - to jump and land. I have had new boots made, I have tried different orthotics (foot supports).”

“I have kept my weight down and tried to build more muscle and I have been doing different things with the physios and nutritionists as well to make myself stronger for when I get back.”