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West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate today apologised to David Silva for the challenge that floored the Manchester City playmaker.
Silva was treated for eight minutes on the pitch and then taken to hospital after he was caught by Kouyate’s elbow during City’s 2-0 home win.
Kouyate tweeted: “I would like to say to @21LVA that I am very sorry that you were injured during the match on Sunday but it was not my intention I went for the ball and my eyes were on the ball. I always play the ball and never the player. You are a great guy and a great player and I hope you are back on the field very soon.”
Rival managers Sam Allardyce and Manuel Pellegrini both absolved Kouyate of any blame.
Initially it was thought Silva had broken his cheekbone but City announced yesterday he had escaped serious injury.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">I would like to say to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/21LVA" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-62066-https://twitter.com/21LVA" data-vars-event-id="c23">@21LVA</a> that I am very sorry that you were injured during the match on Sunday, but it was not my intention 1/3— cheikhou kouyate 8 (@PapiCheikhou) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590482676169187329" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-62066-https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590482676169187329" data-vars-event-id="c23">April 21, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">I went for the ball and my eyes were on the ball. I always play the ball and never the player 2/3— cheikhou kouyate 8 (@PapiCheikhou) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590482849742086144" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-62066-https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590482849742086144" data-vars-event-id="c23">April 21, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">You are a great guy and a great player <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/21LVA" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-62066-https://twitter.com/21LVA" data-vars-event-id="c23">@21LVA</a> and I hope you are back on the field very soon 3/3— cheikhou kouyate 8 (@PapiCheikhou) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590483034664730624" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-62066-https://twitter.com/PapiCheikhou/status/590483034664730624" data-vars-event-id="c23">April 21, 2015</a>
