SHANE Moore says he has a 50/50 chance of returning to the ice to help the Swindon Wildcats’ cause this weekend as he continues his recovery from injury.

The D-man has been missing since the middle of October after suffering an ankle problem, leaving Wildcats painfully short of defensive players during a crucial run of games.

The Link Centre side have enjoyed an up-and-down time in his absence, but Moore is itching to return this weekend for the games against Telford and Peterborough.

“I had an inflammation on my ankle, and when I went to see my doctor he tried to fix it and left an open wound which got infected septic arthritis which attacks the bone,” he said.

“At the moment I am 50/50 for this weekend, but I have great support from the backroom staff here who have bought me some new skates which offer me a lot more protection.

“Hopefully, if the bone bruising has gone down enough I would like to think I could be back for the weekend.”

Moore has cut a frustrated figure during his enforced absence, but believes he did the right thing in biding his time.

“It is really frustrating early in the season to be suffering with injuries, like a lot of our guys have, because you want to be out there when the team is suffering a little,” he said.

“But the guys are putting the effort in and there can’t be any complaints there really, and people are playing through injuries.

“I want to be out there of course I do, but it is a long season and when all of our guys return I know we are going to be contenders.”

“It is a marathon and not a sprint, and with injuries like the one I had I could have gone out and played against Milton Keynes and then faced six or eight weeks.

“But by resting I could be back this weekend or next at 95 or 100 per cent fitness.”

If Moore does return at the Link Centre tomorrow night, he knows he is going to be doing so in a huge game.

“Both games are huge for us because we are playing the two sides below us,” he said.

“They are teams we need to be looking at and targeting for points, but at the same time it is crucial to beat anyone.

“The league is going to be so tight, so we need to take every chance we get at the moment.”