During a pre-season friendly in San Diego, California, on Tuesday, July 25, Wrexham striker Paul Mullin suffered a punctured lung in a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper, Nathan Bishop. The match featured a predominantly Under-21 side from United, with first-team coach Erik ten Hag observing from the dugout.
The friendly encounter turned bad-tempered and aggressive, witnessing numerous yellow cards, a red card, a serious injury to Paul Mullin, and even a half-naked pitch invader. Despite the challenging circumstances, Phil Parkinson's League Two team secured a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
Paul Mullin was one of the highly anticipated players on the pitch, but his time on the field was cut short after the collision with goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. In the 11th minute, while attempting a header just outside the box, Mullin collided with Bishop and both players went down. Clearly in pain, Mullin held his head with his right hand and his left hip with his left hand. He stayed down for approximately seven minutes, and medical personnel attended to him with a stretcher and a cart on standby. Eventually, with assistance and an oxygen mask, Mullin was able to walk off the field.
Wrexham's manager, Parkinson, later revealed that Mullin had suffered a small puncture to his lung as a result of the collision.
After Mullin's substitution, the crowd showed their appreciation for the striker, while Manchester United goalkeeper Bishop faced boos whenever he touched the ball. Wrexham, known for their fairytale rise, gained worldwide recognition last season when they secured a remarkable return to the English Football League after a 15-year absence. Paul Mullin played a significant role in this success, scoring 38 league goals to lead the Dragons back to the Football League for the first time in 15 years. He also became the top scorer in the FA Cup with nine goals.
As their popularity rises, Wrexham has been engaging in pre-season friendlies with top-flight Premier League teams, including a recent match against Chelsea, which they lost 5-0.