MULLIN WILL BE OUT FOR A WHILE
Wrexham star had punctured lung after Tuesday’s collision
Wrexham AFC striker Paul Mullin suffered a punctured lung during a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop in a preseason friendly Tuesday night in San Diego.
The mishap leaves the namesake team from the FX docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham” to start the English Football League season next month without its top scorer from its previous campaign.
It also left manager Phil Parkinson seething, even after his fourth-tier team pulled off a 3-1 win over the Premier League powerhouse.
“I’m fuming with it. I have to be honest about that,” Parkinson said after the match. “It was a clumsy, reckless challenge in a preseason game. I can’t say any more than the fact I’m not happy with it at all.”
During the postgame interview, Parkinson said Mullin was hospitalized with a small puncture to his lung and was expected to see a specialist. He also confirmed that Mullin would miss at least the Aug. 5 opener at Milton Keynes Dons.
Wrexham later tweeted a photo of Mullin in a hospital bed, wearing an oxygen mask and giving a thumbsup.
“Thank you for all your messages,” the caption read. “All good here.”
Ryan Reynolds, who coowns the oldest soccer club in Wales with fellow actor Rob McElhenney, tweeted: “Paul Mullin puts his last drop of blood into everything he does. The entire @Wrexham_AFC community is pulling for a speedy recovery.”
Mullin scored 38 goals last season as Wrexham won the National League title to earn a promotion to EFL League Two.
Mullin was attempting a header just outside the box in the 11th minute when he was met with full force by Bishop and went down. After about seven minutes, Mullin was able to walk off the field with assistance and wearing an oxygen mask.
Bishop received a yellow card and was booed by the crowd at Snapdragon Stadium following the incident.