Sir Alex Ferguson has offered Ryan Shawcross his support against claims the Stoke defender set out to injure Aaron Ramsey.
The Manchester United manager worked closely with Shawcross at Old Trafford before selling him to the Potters and still rates the defender very highly.
The centre-back who has just been called up by England, has been accused in some quarters of deliberately trying to hurt the Arsenal midfielder during Saturday's clash with Arsenal.
The City man was sent off for the late challenge during the second-half of their 3-1 defeat to the Gunners while Ramsey is now facing a lengthy lay-off after suffering a double leg fracture.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "Sir Alex rang Ryan after the game on Sunday to give him his support and told him that he shouldn't miss out on England duty.
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These things do happen, unfortunately, and Sir Alex still thinks a lot of Ryan after having him for so long at Manchester United.
"He knows him as well as I do and knows he is not the sort of player to go out to deliberately hurt anyone. Sir Alex had obviously seen the incident and believed, like I do, that it was an accident.
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He told him he will get over it, even though he knows he's hurting now.
Ryan really appreciated the call and it's given him a bit of a lift at a very difficult time."