Wrexham star Paul Mullin explains why he refused to lie on a stretcher after suffering punctured lung during Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side's pre-season defeat to Man Utd

During a pre-season clash with Manchester United last summer, Mullin had a nasty collision with goalkeeper Nathan Bishop - now at Sunderland - before later being given oxygen and taken to hospital. However, the striker said it was a "non-negotiable" that he walked off the field rather than being stretchered off as that would unnecessarily scare his family. The 29-year-old did admit that was a mistake, however.

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He said on the first episode of season three's 'Welcome to Wrexham': "I was trying to tell the physios that I cannot sit on a stretcher, I've got family watching back home it's the early hours of the morning. If I sit on that or lie on that with an oxygen mask on, they're going to be even more worried than they are now. I should never have done that, but I had to with my family watching. It's just something that's non-negotiable for me."

While Mullin made a full recovery and returned to help fire Wrexham into League One, the forward admitted after the incident that he feared for his life. While his team-mates returned to Wales, Mullin recovered out in Los Angeles.

''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,'' Mullin toldThe Athletic in August.

Following their promotion from League Two, Mullin and his Wrexham team-mates will enjoy some time off before returning to the United States in July for some friendlies against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Vancouver Whitecaps.