LONDON: The boot that caused Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to suffer a near-fatal injury is under investigation by the players' union, The Sun reported.

Professional Footballers'  Association  (PFA) chief Gordon Taylor wants more checks on Hugo Rodallega’s studs after his accidental clash sliced open Rooney’s leg.

He said: “This is an ongoing process, we have not finished looking into it.”

Rooney needed stitches in his thigh after the sickeningly deep gash sustained in United’s clash with Fulham last month.

The wound came within a millimeter of puncturing the femoral artery - a situation that could have seen Rooney bleed to death within 10 minutes.

England man Rooney was ruled out of the World Cup double-header against Moldova and Ukraine but the fallout continued while he has been sidelined.

The PFA want to know if Rodallega’s combination of studs and blades were safe during Fulham’s 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

Taylor has been assured that Rodallega’s boots were checked by fourth official Phil Gibbs before he came on as a substitute.

Rooney, 26, expects to be out for another fortnight but thanked his lucky stars that he was not more seriously hurt.

 “I was lucky, to be honest, because it was a millimeter away from my artery. It could’ve been a lot worse. Thank God I was quite fortunate,” he said.

- mD