Man Utd goalkeeper makes social media apology after ‘reckless’ challenge hospitalises opponent

Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop has issued an apology to Wrexham’s Paul Mullin. after his challenge resulted in the forward being admitted to hospital on Wednesday.

Bishop was involved in a dangerous coming together with Mullin in the first half of a pre-season friendly fixture in San Diego, which resulted in the latter needing to receive oxygen on the pitch and he also suffered a punctured lung. A youthful United side lost the game 3-1, with Elliot Lee, Aaron Hayden and Sam Dalby netting for the Welsh outfit, while Marc Jurado scored United’s solitary goal.

But it could have been worse for United had they been reduced to 10 men in the early stages, with Bishop fortunate not to receive a straight red for his reckless challenge, although the Red Devils did see Daniel Gore dismissed within three minutes of the second half beginning.

Both Bishop and Mullin had been replaced by then, with the United goalkeeper making way at half-time while Wrexham’s prolific forward was taken to hospital for treatment. Mullin looks set to miss the start of the League Two season - which kicks off next week - following the incident, and Wrexham manager Phil Parkison was furious with the nature of Bishop’s challenge.

“I’m fuming about it, I’ve got to be honest with you,” he said after the match. “It was a clumsy, reckless, challenge in a pre-season game and I’m not happy with it at all. 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.

“It’s a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper, I’m disappointed with that,” Parkison added. “It should have been a straight red. If it’s not denying a goal scoring opportunity it’s still a dangerous challenge so if you add the two scenarios together he should have been off the pitch. It’s a dangerous challenge and obviously Paul Mullin is our talisman.”

Meanwhile, Bishop tweeted to apologise to Mullin and wrote on social media: “Just wanted to share my sincerest apologies to @‌PMullin7. A complete misjudgement and a genuine accident with 0 malicious intent at all!”

Bishop could leave United this transfer window with Sunderland interested in signing the 23-year-old, who joined the Red Devils in 2020 but is yet to play a senior, competitive match for the club. The Red Devils will sort the futures of Tom Heaton, Dean Henderson and Matej Kovar before making a decision on Bishop.