EX-Premier League star Jermaine Pennant needed more than 50 stitches after a dog repeatedly sank its teeth into his leg.
The talkSport pundit, 43, was saved by his own dog who leapt to his defence.
He had been walking American Akita King when it was confronted by a German Shepherd.
Ex-Arsenal and Liverpool star Jermaine told The Sun: “It was really scary. The other dog had a go at King, so I stepped in to protect him.
“The next thing I know, it was attacking me.
“I was on the floor and it was on my leg for at least five seconds.
“I felt this huge pressure. Imagine the force of a dog bite.
“King jumped in to protect me.
“The two dogs were really going at it, and then King stood by my side until help arrived.
“He saved my life. If King had been a smaller dog, there would have been no chance.”
Jermaine said both dogs were off the lead in North London.
His girlfriend of two years, Mimmi Montgomery, got him an Uber to A&E where he was treated for four bite wounds on his right leg.
He spent Friday night in hospital and has been told he might need plastic surgery on one large wound.
Ex-winger Jermaine, who retired in 2018, declined to report the matter to police.
He added: “It’s just one of those things.
“I’m fine, the dog’s fine. It’s all good.”
Police-recorded offences of out-of-control dog attacks causing injury have risen from 16,040 in 2020 to 29,400 last year, up 83 per cent.
The true figure will be higher as they exclude unreported incidents.
