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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he recalls the thrilling closing stages of his team's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The game culminated with Galbraith picking up a supporter's spectacles following the post-goal scrum.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith struck the post with a long-range shot from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess immediately converted the loose ball before racing off toward the home end to celebrate, with fans mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

The result completed an incredible turnaround given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 midway through the final 45 minutes. Amid the delirium, there was some collateral damage. He shared, "There was a spectator trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were puzzled: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're people, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The result earned a fourth-round match at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with his former club in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with a teammate's long-range effort from about long distance going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. Many argued that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've credited him for having a go from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before shifting to right flank after they changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the City players who complimented the way his former team approached the match.

Guardiola's System

"Athletically they are very good but even the simple things and simple things, they can just execute repeatedly," he explains. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they know how to control and slow down a game. You can think you're doing well and then without warning they will just deliver a through ball through a line without you even noticing. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It requires a tough attitude and attention just to keep pace."

New Chapter

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly achieved similar status in south Wales. At the London club he reunited with the coach, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a temporary move at League Two the Manchester club, before he moved on from Manchester United.

Development Path

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into senior level. I think a lot of players would say under-23s football is entirely separate. Sometimes it feels like play is circulated without serious challenge. You see few hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."

National Team Success

He has shown that development for club and country, performing well for his national side, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has started the past five games, including home and away fixtures against the German national team. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, paid him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he controls possession and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Starting Out

This marks an incredible journey for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his parent, his father, also a engine room operator, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

His single match for the Red Devils came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a Europa League trip to the host city, where they played on an synthetic surface and the venue ceiling was sealed owing to temperatures of bitter cold. "That proved to be a long trip and it was chilly," he recalls, smiling. "The week before, the academy prospects practiced as a group, so that assisted our preparation. Just to join the main group and earn some playing time at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged 16? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I got to the stage where I realized I wasn't going to make it at first-team level. I'm very appreciative for the years at the club but it became apparent where I believed I had to take a different path, join a smaller club and play first-team games. Now I'm steadily progressing again."

Life in Swansea

It is the early part of the afternoon at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has somewhere to be at late afternoon: a driving theory test, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to his new neighborhood, the 24-year-old was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which transports players to and from training and matches.

"It's myself the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's pleasant to socialize with the guys but I'm planning to be the following person out of the minibus and driving. The Portuguese player enjoys practical jokes; he's constantly causing mischief."

Supporter Connections

During his time at Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside supporters on the Tube after beginning his trip at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim