Wrexham striker Paul Mullin is ignoring medical advice after suffering punctured lung
Wrexham forward Paul Mullin has admitted to ignoring medical advice following his long-awaited return from injury.
Back in July, the 28-year-old striker feared for his life after colliding with Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop in the first half of their pre-season clash in San Diego.
Mullin, who required oxygen from medical staff and received seven minutes of treatment before walking off the pitch, was later diagnosed with a punctured lung.
After just under two months on the sidelines, he returned to the first-team fold.
“I came back a lot quicker than expected,” he said via The Mirror. “I was told by one specialist that it could have been six months (out). That would have been the end of the world for me.”
Mullin added: “But it does still feel like a long-term injury, as I haven’t played a proper full game since April against Yeovil at home. This (against Crewe) was my first 90 minutes for a really long time.
“It has been the first injury to keep me out longer than a week. It has been pleasing to score but I know I’ve still got to work as hard as I can to make me feel as good as last year.”
The former Swindon and Tranmere forward also revealed that he’d been told by medical staff to wear protective padding on his chest following his punctured lung.
But Mullin has decided against following the medical advice.
“I was meant to wear it for a few weeks,” he added. “But I’d rather take the pain and play in discomfort. To be fair, my ribs are 100 per cent now, apart from when I lay in bed. I’ve had to become accustomed to sleeping on my right side.”
As mentioned earlier, Mullin said he feared for his life following the incident in July.
Writing in a column for The Athletic, he explained: “I was trying to breathe in but nothing was happening. I couldn’t get air into my lungs. That’s when I knew it was bad.
“In that struggle for breath, with my lips turning blue, I accepted that this could be it for me. That’s how it felt. I couldn’t breathe properly for a few minutes.”
He added: “I remember, a few seconds earlier, getting my head to the ball and then going down.
“For someone like me who will do that kind of thing again and again, being winded is something I’m used to. It usually lasts around 10 seconds and is never nice. Only this time, I couldn’t shake it.”
Topics: Wrexham, League Two
Paul Mullin gives funny response after Wrexham boss says he’s ‘lost contact’ with injured strike
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Wrexham’s Paul Mullin gave a brilliant response after his manager Phil Parkinson claimed he had ‘lost contact’ with his star striker.
Mullin sustained a punctured lung following a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop in a pre-season friendly last month.
The 28-year-old was ruled out of the beginning of the League Two season, meaning he missed Wrexham’s 5-3 defeat to MK Dons on Saturday.
He also missed the penalty shootout win over League One side Wigan in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday – but the day brought more positive news for the striker on the injury front.
Mullin was allowed to fly home from California – where the injury occurred – back to Wales to continue his rehabilitation, although no date has been set for his return to football.
In the meantime, he watched on as the Red Dragons recorded their first victory of the new season – and had a funny response for his manager.
Paul Mullin responds to Wrexham boss
Parkinson is no stranger to cup upsets, having guided Bradford to the League Cup final in the 2012/13 season.
His side also produced a famous 4-2 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January 2015 – with Tuesday’s victory over Wigan the latest to add to his glowing cup CV.
Understandably, the Lancashire-born boss wanted to celebrate with Mullin after the game, but revealed he could not get hold of him.
He told Sky Sports: “He hasn’t been answering his phone for a few days! Which you can’t blame.
“He’ll be back with us and when he comes back in the next few days we’ll be able to assess, we’ll send him to see a specialist and see how long he’s going to be out for.”
In response, Mullin posted a photo of himself on a plane flying back from California, with the caption: “BRB, data ran out.”
Parkinson and co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be desperate for Mullin to return to full fitness as quickly as possible, given his incredible goalscoring record for the club.
He has scored 79 goals in all competitions across two seasons at the Racecourse Ground, and will hope to hit the ground running upon his return.
In the meantime, Wrexham have signed Republic of Ireland winger James McClean, although the 34-year-old is yet to make his debut for his new club. He scored nine goals in League One for Wigan during the 2021/22 season.
On the search for a replacement for Mullin, Parkinson said: “We have got a few bids on the table, but it’s difficult to get good strikers out of clubs especially when they don’t want to sell or they don’t need to sell financially.”
Topics: Wrexham, League Two, Ryan Reynolds, Rob
Wrexham already ‘in talks’ with stunning replacement for the injured Paul Mulli
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Wrexham are reportedly already in talks to sign a replacement for the injured Paul Mullin.
On Tuesday, Wrexham were taking on Premier League giants Manchester United at the Snapdragon Stadium in California.
Despite winning the match 3-1 courtesy of goals from Elliot Lee, Aaron Hayden and Sam Dalby, the main talking point was when Mullin had to be substituted after just 19 minutes.
The 28-year-old was left with a punctured lung after a collision with United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson slammed Bishop after the match, he said: “I’m fuming about it, I’ve got to be honest with you.
“It was a clumsy, reckless challenge in a pre-season game and I’m not happy with it at all.”
On the back of Mullin’s injury, journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Wrexham are plotting a move for Barnsley striker James Norwood.
The 32-year-old moved to Barnsley at the start of last season and went on to score 11 goals in 42 League One appearances at Oakwell.
Heading into the final year of his contract, Nixon claimed on his Patreon that Wrexham are targeting an ambitious transfer.
The new promoted League Two club have already brought in Will Boyle from Huddersfield Town this summer as they prepare for the 23/24 season.
Norwood spoke about his future back in May, he said: “Listen, football will take care of itself. If we go up and something happens, brilliant. If we go up or stay in this league, you never know.
“I am not seeing it as my last game or anything else. It’s the last game of the season.”
Norwood added: “When I spoke to the gaffer on the phone (last summer), I said I could have signed for a few other clubs, but I wanted to chase promotion. We are one game away.”
Wrexham will round off their pre season tour with a match against Philadelphia Union II before starting their League Two campaign on 5 August.
Topics: Wrexham, Football, League Two
Ryan Reynolds has made contact with Man Utd goalkeeper Nathan Bishop after Paul Mullin incident
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Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has made contract with Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop to praise the way he dealt with an incident involving Paul Mullin.
Bishop unintentionally clattered into Mullin during Wednesday’s pre-season clash at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, leaving the Merseyside-born forward with a punctured lung.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was booed by Wrexham fans following the incident before being replaced by Radek Vitek at half-time. Mullin, meanwhile, was rushed to a local hospital.
After the full-time whistle, manager Phil Parkinson said he was “fuming” about the “clumsy and reckless” challenge.
“I haven’t seen the goalie and he’s probably best steering clear of us for the time being because we’re not very happy,” he said in his post-match interview. “It should have been a straight red.
Wrexham went on to win the game 3-1 thanks to goals from Elliot Lee, Aaron Hayden and Sam Dalby but the nasty-looking injury to Mullin somewhat overshadowed the result ahead of next month’s League Two opener.
An apologetic Bishop took to Twitter to apologise to Mullin after the game.
“Just wanted to share my sincerest apologies to @PMullin7,” he wrote. “A complete misjudgement and a genuine accident with 0 malicious intent at all! Wishing you the speediest recovery and hope to see you back scoring goals as soon as possible!”
Two days later and with the situation still hostile, reports have emerged that Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has personally intervened to calm things down.
In fact, the Deadpool actor reached out to express appreciation for the way Bishop dealt with the incident, according to The Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell.
Reynolds, who wasn’t in the stands as Wrexham secured a historic win against United, also wished him luck for the future.
United, meanwhile, have reportedly agreed a deal to sell Nathan Bishop, despite his appearance for the club in pre-season.
The 23-year-old, who signed from Southend in 2020, is close to joining Championship side Sunderland, according to the Northern Echo. The deal will be completed once United return from their tour of America.
It is claimed that, should the deal go through, the goalkeeper would act as second choice behind Anthony Patterson.
Topics: Wrexham, Manchester United, League Two
Wrexham ‘agree £400,000 deal’ for Paul Mullin replacement
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Wrexham have reportedly closing in on a £400,000 replacement for Paul Mullin as transfer deadline day approaches.
The Dragons are in desperate need of a new forward after their top scorer and talisman Mullin suffered a brutal pre-season injury.
The former Cambridge United and Tranmere Rovers man netted 47 times in all competitions last season but is currently recovering from a punctured lung suffered in a collision with goalkeeper Nathan Bishop in a friendly with Manchester United
Mullin spent the first part of his recovery in an apartment in Long Beach but is now back home and on the mend.
But Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want a striker to replace Mullin and look to be nearing the completion of a deal for Wycombe’s Brandon Hanlan.
A first bid for Hanlan was turned down by the Chairboys but a second offer has since been tabled, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider.
Hanlan, who has 200 appearances in League One under his belt, is in the final year of his contract at Adams Park and Football League World say the former Charlton and Bristol Rovers man has agreed personal terms with Wrexham.
It’s expected that the two clubs will be able to strike a deal before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm on 1 September.
Hanlan was not in Wycombe’s squad for their 1-0 defeat to Sutton United on Tuesday night, with manager Matt Bloomfield commenting: “Brands wasn’t in the squad which was obviously disappointing when you’re chasing a goal second half. “He’s been extremely good for us recently. I don’t think I should comment too much on that.”
Wrexham haven’t quite had the spending spree many had expected, bringing in James McClean, Will Boyle, Liam Hall and Luke McNicholas.
Phil Parkinson’s side are currently 16th in League Two after taking six points from their opening five games.
Topics: Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney
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