Injury risk of stars' boots

AMATEUR footballers should not copy their World Cup heroes and play in lightweight boots, because they are causing feet fractures, a top sports injury expert has warned.

Professor David Barrett, a knee and sports injury specialist at Southampton General Hospital, claimed that the trend for the high-technology footwear could cause metatarsal injuries in footballers of Sunday league standard.

The boots are favoured by many star footballers, including Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, to aid speed on the pitch.

Prof Barrett said: "Orthopaedic surgeons are seeing a lot more metatarsal injuries in patients, and that is because of lightweight boots. The players have no protection at all."