One word leapt to the forefront of Matt Ingram’s mind when asked how it felt to watch on from the Wembley sidelines as his team mates contested the League Two play-off final.

“Horrible” was the adjective which the 21-year-old used to describe the torture of being made to look on helplessly from the stands as Southend crushed Wanderers’ dreams of promotion.

After making his professional debut in March 2013, Wycombe’s homegrown talent had never missed a match since, racking up 111 consecutive appearances – the last of which saw his incredible run come an end when he limped off against Northampton in the final league game of last season after a heavy collision with Sam Wood.

The knee injury sustained at Sixfields ruled him out of the play-off semi-finals against Plymouth, in addition to the final at the national stadium, although Ingram was just thankful that the injury was not more serious.

“When I first did it I panicked because I heard something go in there and it wasn’t right,” he said.

“I tried carrying on but there was obviously something wrong and that’s when I had to call it a day.”

Ingram even believes it may have taught him a few things, adding that the experience will improve his decision making when those situations arise again.

It was the first time in his fledgling career that the stopper has been sidelined through injury, and he admitted that the club’s day out at Wembley had been tarnished by the fact he was donning a suit rather than his No1 shirt.

“It was horrible,” said Ingram on being a spectator for Blues’ play-off campaign.

“I was sat at home watching it or in the stands and it was horrible. I was more nervous watching the lads because I couldn’t affect the game than I was making my debut. It was horrible watching the games, but we came so close.

“It was a great day out and it would have been even better if I’d have been on the pitch. It would have been even better if we’d have won, but we can take a lot from it. It was a learning experience for all the lads and hopefully we can go again this season.”

After the Hazlemere born ‘keeper knew that playing at Wembley was going to prove beyond his reach, he set his sights on getting himself fit and ready for the Chairboys first game of the upcoming season.

Ingram took just a two week holiday before returning to the gym, while the rest of the squad were still on their holidays, in order to get himself right.

When asked how he coped with being injured, the Blues stopper replied: “It was a new one. It was kind of lucky that it fell during the off season because that’s the time when there’s no football and I didn’t have to go and watch more games.

“I was in a lot over the summer, strengthening my legs, getting back fit and I just need games now before the season.

“I went away for two weeks and then I was straight back in the gym strengthening my legs, doing all sorts to be ready for pre-season.”

Ingram is firmly on the comeback trail, a welcome sight for manager Gareth Ainsworth as well as the Adams Park faithful, who will have breathed a sigh of relief to see him come through 90 minutes unscathed against Basingstoke on Tuesday night.

The ‘keeper was rarely tested on his return to action and tougher tests lie ahead with the League Two season and the opening fixture on August 8 looming large – but it’s a challenge that Ingram is relishing after his spell on the sidelines.

“My knee’s fine, there’s no problem there and I want to crack on ready for the season,” he said.

“I can still tell there’s a little bit of rustiness but these games and training are to get it out of me ready for York.”