Wrexham star striker Paul Mullin reveals he was left fearing for his LIFE after puncturing his lung in pre-season friendly against Manchester United

Wrexham's star striker has revealed he was left fearing for his life after suffering from a punctured lung and four fractured ribs during a pre-season friendly against Manchester United in July.

The 47-goal forward was involved in a horror collision with reserve goalkeeper Nathan Bishop at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, and was forced off the pitch and taken straight to hospital.

The 28-year-old recovered from the injury Stateside before returning to Wales last week after the League Two side played their season opener against MK Dons on August 5.

Wrexham will be loath to be without their striking starlet for the start of their campaign, and have seen out an opening defeat and a gritty draw without Mullin leading the line.

But in a revealing essay for The Athletic, Mullin reveals he first believed the consequences of his injury to be far worse than a spell on the sidelines.

'I was trying to breathe in but nothing was happening. I couldn't get air into my lungs,' Mullin recounted. '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.

'I was thinking about my little boy, Albi. I hate being away from him and my partner Molly for too long but I had told myself it was only two weeks and that I'd be back home soon.

'It ended up being much longer, but I'm so thankful it wasn't worse.

'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.'

Mullin spent 13 hours on