INJURY could not have come at a worse time for Swindon Wildcats D-man having broken into the Cardiff Devils side for the first time this season.

The 20-year-old, who is on a two-way deal with the Elite League side, played 19 games for his home club during their 2013/14 campaign but was very much a backup player when he got sent to Swindon to help develop his craft.

Having made an immediate impact at the Link Centre in his first season, Buglass was back in Wiltshire last year and signed on for a third term in the summer.

Buglass has become a fans favourite and his impressive form in the English Premier League, along with injuries to Cardiff’s defensive line, saw him receive a late call-up to travel with the team and play a significant role in their 6-2 win away to Scottish outfit Braehead Clan.

“Being called up to play for Cardiff was unreal,” he said.

“I did make my debut for them as a kid but that was more like one shift here and there, whereas this time around it was regular shifts and I got to be on the ice loads and I got to experience travelling with the team.

“It was a bit out of the blue. They had a few injuries to their defensive line the weekend before and every week I let the coaches know when I can train.

“I got a text on the Monday night asking to come down to training on the Tuesday and I knew something was up when they asked me to train with the team that was going to play the game on the Wednesday.

“When I got to training, I got told that I was going and I couldn’t have been happier.

“There were a lot of nerves going into the game but I think I controlled them well.

“It was a big step up and to play as many minutes as I did, it was a big ask but after you get that first shift under your belt, your confidence grows.

“It’s a big confidence boost for me that they are ready as Cardiff coaches to put me in that situation.”

Buglass had a further x-ray on his dislocated shoulder, picked up in the Wildcats’ defeat to Hull Pirates, but will have to wait for an MRI scan to reveal the full extent of the damage.

That rules him out of tomorrow’s trip to Peterborough Phantoms and he has admitted that being a spectator is no fun.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” he added.

“I was on a real high having played for Cardiff.

“Now, I’m not training with Cardiff and I am not training with Swindon and it is tough not being on the ice.

“You want to be able to contribute to the team.”