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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the nail-biting dying seconds of his team's remarkable turnaround victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match culminated with Galbraith briefly donning a spectator's eyewear following the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful shot from distance, and the defender quickly hammered in the rebound before racing off toward the crowd to celebrate, with fans congregating around the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

This capped an unbelievable turnaround given the team had found themselves down 2-0 deep into the final 45 minutes. Amid the celebrations, there was some collateral damage. He shared, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and we were puzzled: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

The result booked a upcoming game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with the London side in February. He had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's volley from about 45 yards going in via the bar and the City goalkeeper. Many argued that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for taking the effort on from that distance," stated Galbraith, who played in the middle before moving to right defensive wing after the team changed shape. That meant competing with the England international, with whom he traded tops, and the winger was among the Manchester squad who paid tribute to the way his former team approached the match.

Opponent's Class

"Fitness-wise they are very good but even the simple things and simple things, they can just execute repeatedly," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they always find their target and they understand how to control and take the sting out of a game. You can feel you're all right and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be focused every second of the game. It requires a strong mentality and concentration just to keep pace."

Swansea Move

The Welsh side sought to acquire Galbraith in January and secured his signature to bring him in in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across multiple campaigns at his former club and has swiftly achieved similar status in south Wales. At Orient he reunited with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at a League One side from Manchester United. Then came a spell at lower division the Manchester club, before he departed Manchester United.

Development Path

"I was perhaps a bit naive going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without real physicality. There are limited hard challenges. Once you start playing first-team football you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

He has demonstrated that growth for his team and nation, shining for Northern Ireland, who could still reach the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has started the past five games, including home and away fixtures against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's former international manager, gave him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he handles the football and his eye for a killer pass.

Starting Out

It has been a remarkable path for the kid from the local area in Glengormley, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his dad, Stuart, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Red Devils Debut

His sole appearance for Manchester United came in Central Asia in 2019, a continental tournament trip to Astana, where they competed on an plastic turf and the stadium roof was sealed owing to the weather of freezing cold. "That proved to be a long trip and it was cold out there," he comments, smiling. "The preceding week, myself and quite a few of the young lads trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "It was relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the senior squad. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it got to the point where I believed I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play professional soccer. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

Life in Swansea

This occurs during the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has somewhere to be at 5pm: a learner's exam, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a regular in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a small coach driven by team personnel, the transport team, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with a teammate, the Brazilian, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the teammates but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and behind the wheel. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's constantly causing mischief."

Supporter Connections

When he represented Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside followers on London's Central line after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim