Menelik Watson endured an evening of mixed emotions at Wembley on Sunday as the Manchester-born offensive tackle made his return to the UK.

The Oakland Raiders man watched from the side-lines during the opening exchanges of the clash with Miami Dolphins but an early injury to Khalif Barnes thrusted the 25-year-old into action, a moment he admits felt almost surreal at the time.

“I was emotional before the game but then I just tried to focus and not really notice the crowd,” he said.

 “Then Khalifi went down and I was in. At that point I thought, ‘this is a bit of a storybook moment, a guy goes down and I have to step up’.”

The Oakland Raiders man was watched live by his family for the first time since becoming an NFL player and he confessed that, with them in the stands, it was sometimes a battle to keep his emotions in check.

 “I always blow a kiss when I play in America because I wish my daughter and Mum could see me playing.

This time they were there so I just found them in the crowd and wanted to let them know I could see them,” he said.

 “The best part for me was when the English national anthem came on, that was touching and I got a bit emotional.”

Although the occasion was something of a fairy tale for Watson the result was far from the script he would have written.

After a strong start which saw Brian Leonhardt give the Raiders the lead, the Dolphins roared back and were comfortable 38-14 winners in the end.

 But, despite a difficult start to the season for his side, Menelik says he is still living the dream.

 “It’s disappointing, it’s not where we want to be in the season but we can’t hold our heads right now and feel sorry for ourselves, we just need to bounce back,” said Watson.

 “I was thinking today about how I’m one of the only Brits in the NFL and every once in a while I’ll have a little moment where I think ‘that’s pretty crazy’.

“It was something I dreamt of when I was a kid but I’m not where I need to be.

 “I want to be better, I want to be the best in this league so, that’s why I can never really stop and think about it, because I want to get better and better.”

Despite enjoying life in the NFL after his second round draft pick back in 2013, Watson does admit there is one thing in particular he misses about the UK.

“I love Match Of The Day,” Menelik said with a beaming grin.

 “I went to my brother’s room to spend time with him and he said ‘Match Of The Day is coming on’ and I was gone.

“I went to my room, kicked my feet up and watched Match Of The Day, I miss it.”