JERMAINE PENNANT NEEDS MORE THAN 50 STITCHES AFTER DOG ATTACK

Jermaine Pennant said a German shepherd bit his right leg during a walk in north London, leaving him needing more than 50 stitches. The former Arsenal and Liverpool winger said the dog first confronted his American Akita, King. Pennant said he stepped in to protect King, and the German shepherd then attacked him. He fell to the ground as the dog held on to his leg for what he estimated was at least five seconds. King intervened and the other dog released him, Pennant said.

Pennant said both dogs were off their leads at the time. He received treatment for four bite wounds on his right leg. His partner, Mimmi Montgomery, found him after he called her from the ground, Pennant said. Montgomery arranged an Uber to take him to A&E after he was told an ambulance would take 12 hours, according to Pennant. He said he walked from a path between a graveyard and a golf course to reach the road.

At A&E, staff gave Pennant a tetanus jab and antibiotics, he said. He spent Friday night in hospital and said he might need plastic surgery on one large wound. “I was fearing for my leg,” Pennant said, explaining that his trousers prevented him from seeing the injuries. Pennant declined to report the attack to police. He said King was unharmed.