Ben Foster sought out Nathan Bishop in the Manchester United dressing room after learning how distraught the young goalkeeper was over the challenge that put Wrexham’s star striker Paul Mullin in hospital.
Mullin suffered a punctured lung after being poleaxed by Bishop in the 12th minute of Wrexham’s 3-1 win over a United Under-21 side at the SnapDragon Stadium in San Diego and is now set to miss the start of the new League Two season.
Bishop’s challenge drew a furious reaction from Wrexham manager, Phil Parkinson, who suggested the 23-year-old goalkeeper would be better off giving their dressing room a wide berth, remarks that angered United.
But Foster, the Wrexham and former United goalkeeper, heard how devastated Bishop was about the incident and went to console him and pass on Mullin’s number so the goalkeeper could message to apologise.
“I feel so bad for Nathan, he’s absolutely heartbroken,” Foster said. “I passed Paul’s number onto Nathan so he can get in touch with him but, yeah, he’s absolutely gutted. I feel for the lad.”
Mainoo injury blow
It should have been a big night for Kobbie Mainoo, who was picked to start against Real Madrid at the NRG Stadium in Houston in the early hours on Thursday ahead of much more experienced midfielders, just days after impressing in the win over Arsenal. Yet Mainoo’s evening was cut cruelly short after just four minutes when he was clattered by Rodrygo after a foul by Casemiro had sent the Real player tumbling into United’s rising teenage talent.
Mainoo was down for treatment for some time before hobbling off and being consoled by Real coach Carlo Ancelotti as he made his way back to the dressing room. Mainoo was later pictured leaving the NRG on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot.
United manager Erik ten Hag said they would have to await the results of further tests before determining the severity of the injury. But an extended period out would represent a significant blow to the player and could also potentially complicate Ten Hag’s transfer plans.
United want to sell Fred and Donny van de Beek and are prepared to listen to offers for Scott McTominay if an acceptable bid comes in amid interest from West Ham. But a longer-term injury to Mainoo could leave Ten Hag opposed to losing McTominay.
Maguire booed again in pre-season
Harry Maguire was introduced just after the hour mark of United’s defeat by Madrid and it was disappointing to hear some sections of the crowd briefly booing the England defender.
There were echoes of United’s games against Crystal Palace and Melbourne Victory at the MCG in Melbourne last summer when Maguire was also jeered. For now, Maguire - who has interest from West Ham - remains a United player but it is hard to believe a move would not be in the best interests of both player and club.
Maguire has been stripped of the captaincy, is towards the bottom of the centre-half pecking order and England manager Gareth Southgate has raised concerns about his lack of regular playing time for his club.
Pricey tickets put off fans
United and Real attracted a crowd of 67,801, below the ground’s 72,000 capacity and some distance off the 109,000 attendance the two clubs drew at The Big House in Michigan in 2014. Initially, it looked like the NRG might only be two-thirds full but it did start to fill up a lot more as the game progressed although one imagines it would have been a complete sell-out had the average ticket price not been a hefty $175. Even the cheapest tickets started at $80.
Reporter’s misstep
The media pack covering United’s tour of the US were given a tour of Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, the spectacular home to the Houston Astros baseball team, by the Texan city’s sports chiefs and 2026 World Cup organisers.
Dusty Baker Jr, the legendary 74-year-old coach of the Astros, was spotted chatting to local baseball journalists while his players enjoyed some practice ahead of that evening’s game against the Texas Rangers. What Baker had not reckoned on, though, was being accidentally tripped up by The Athletic’s United correspondent, Laurie Whitwell, as he walked around observing practice. Yet Baker is such a gentleman that he apologised to Whitwell and checked the hack had not injured himself. What a guy.
