Silva in hospital after Kouyate elbow

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that David Silva has been taken to hospital after suffering a facial injury against West Ham.

Pellegrini’s men eased to a 2-0 win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday thanks to a bizarre James Collins own goal and Sergio Aguero’s strike.

But their victory was marred by the blow to Silva, who was caught in the side of the head by an elbow from West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate in the 67th minute and taken off on a stretcher following lengthy treatment.

Pellegrini said: “At this moment he is in hospital and they are checking if he has a broken bone in his cheek.

“I always think that a player doesn’t want to damage another player, the ref decided it was unintentional and I also think that.”