Dries Mertens,whose push on Gary Cahill has cost the England defender his place at Euro 2012, has apologised for his actions.

The Belgium winger left Cahill with a broken jaw early in Saturday's friendly at Wembley, an injury which means the Chelsea man will not travel to Poland and Ukraine for the European Championships.

Taking to Twitter to explain his actions, Mertens said: 'I sincerely apologize [sic] for the harm I've cost to Cahill. When in the heat of the moment, you often don't think about the consequences. My thoughts go out to him and I hope he recovers well!'

Pushing it: Dries Mertens has apologised for the incident which led to Gary Cahill suffering a broken jaw

Cahill had been expected to partner Chelsea team-mate John Terry at Euro 2012 but his place has now been taken by Liverpool defender Martin Kelly.

The defender's injury completes a disastrous week for England, who have now lost three players after central midfield duo Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard had their hopes of taking part in the finals in Poland and Ukraine dashed by injury.

Mertens insisted there was no malice in the challenge which has ended Cahill's hopes of playing in Euro 2012.

PSV Eindhoven player Mertens, who was yellow-carded for the challenge, said: 'It was an accident. It was unintentional.

'He (Cahill) blocked me off and he hit his head (on Hart's shoulder). But there was no malice in what I did.

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