After scoring on his debut against Peterborough, McNulty ruptured a kidney during Brighton's 4–0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 28 February 2009, and the injury ruled him out of action for the foreseeable future. On 23 March, it was announced that McNulty had an operation to remove his right kidney and that he would be ruled out of action for approximately six months. McNulty made his first appearance for Brighton since suffering the horrendous injury in a 2–0 pre-season friendly victory at Scunthorpe United, coming on as a second-half substitute.
After scoring on his debut against Peterborough, McNulty suffered a ruptured kidney during Brighton's match against Crewe Alexandra on February 28, 2009. The injury left him out of action for an extended period. On March 23, it was announced that McNulty had surgery to remove his right kidney and would be absent from play for about six months. McNulty made his first appearance since the severe injury in a preseason friendly against Scunthorpe United as a second-half substitute.