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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the nail-biting final moments of his team's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The game ended with Galbraith briefly donning a spectator's eyewear after the post-goal scrum.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range strike from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess immediately slammed home the rebound before charging toward the crowd to celebrate, with the crowd congregating around the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

This capped an unbelievable comeback given the team had found themselves down 2-0 deep into the latter period. In the celebrations, there was some unintended consequences. He shared, "There was a spectator shouting out and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were puzzled: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're humans, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The victory earned a upcoming fixture at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had a prime vantage point when Orient took the lead in stunning style, with a teammate's first-time shot from about 45 yards going in via the woodwork and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've awarded it to him for having a go from that distance," says Galbraith, who played in the middle before switching to right flank after the team changed tactics. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the attacker was among the City players who paid tribute to the way the underdogs attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Athletically they are very good but even the basics and simple things, they can just execute repeatedly," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they never miss a pass and they know how to dictate and slow down a game. You can think you're doing well and then without warning they will just fizz a pass past your midfield without you even noticing. You have to be switched on at all times of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and attention just to remain competitive."

Swansea Move

Swansea pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He made a name as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has rapidly replicated that in his new home. At the London club he joined forces once more with Richie Wellens, who four years ago gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in first-team action on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a temporary move at fourth-tier Salford, before he permanently left Old Trafford.

Development Path

"I was likely a slightly green going into men's football. I think many athletes would say youth team games is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears the ball is moved without real physicality. There are limited tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adjust fast."

International Recognition

He has demonstrated that growth for both domestically and internationally, excelling for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has featured in the past five games, including two matches games against Germany. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- 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 decisive through ball.

Early Days

This represents an incredible journey for the player from the neighborhood in Glengormley, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who used to see his dad, the elder Galbraith, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's sole appearance for United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a European competition trip to Astana, where they played on an artificial pitch and the venue ceiling was shut owing to conditions of bitter cold. "It was a long trip and it was freezing," he comments, grinning. "The week before, the academy prospects practiced as a group, so that aided our adjustment. Just to accompany the senior squad and get a couple of minutes at the end was unbelievable."

Moving On

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "The decision proved relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the years at the club but it got to the point where I believed I required a fresh start, drop down the leagues and play first-team games. Now I'm gradually climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during mid-afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has somewhere to be at the early evening: a learner's exam, another step towards getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a team vehicle driven by team personnel, the drivers, which transports players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"My companions include a teammate, another squad member, an Ivorian player – Melker Widell used to be in it but has got his license. It's enjoyable to interact with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one to stop using the bus and behind the wheel. The Portuguese player is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside followers on the Tube after beginning his trip at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim