Footwear insert formed from a composite assembly having anti-puncture and anisotropic properties

A method of forming an anti-puncture footwear insert configured to be incorporated into a sole assembly for an article of footwear and having anisotropic bending properties, the method comprising:

• positioning a first layer adjacent to a second layer, wherein:
• the first layer is shaped and sized to fit in the article of footwear and has a compressive modulus and a tensile modulus greater than the compressive modulus;
• the second layer is shaped and sized to fit in the article of footwear and comprises a fiber reinforced material positioned under the first layer;
• positioning an interfacing layer between the first layer and the second layer;
• and
• applying heat or pressure or both heat and pressure to adhesively bond via the interfacing layer the first layer to the second layer, wherein the interfacing layer adheres the first layer to the second layer,
• wherein—
• a neutral bending plane disposed in the first layer;
• and
• the footwear insert has a high resistance to bending in a first direction relative to the neutral bending plane and a low resistance to bending in a second direction opposite the first direction, and
• the first layer is configured to be in tension when the footwear insert bends in the first direction and in compression when the footwear insert bends in the second direction.