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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he recalls the dramatic final moments of Swansea's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The encounter culminated with Galbraith picking up a supporter's spectacles following the on-field celebration.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a long-range strike from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess quickly hammered in the deflection before charging toward the home end to celebrate, with supporters mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result sealed an incredible comeback given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 deep into the latter period. In the delirium, there was some collateral damage. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we spotted the glasses. It was a funny incident putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're individuals, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

That win booked a fourth-round match at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith pushed hard at the same stage of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in stunning style, with a teammate's volley from about long distance going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. It seems unfair that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've given it to him for attempting the shot from that far out," commented Galbraith, who began the game centrally before moving to right wing-back after Orient changed formation. That meant facing off against the England international, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the winger was among the City players who praised the way his former team attacked the game.

Opponent's Class

"Physically they are very good but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just execute repeatedly," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they always find their target and they are adept at dictate and take the sting out of a game. You can think you're holding your own and then without warning they will just deliver a through ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be alert at all times of the game. It requires a resilient mindset and focus just to remain competitive."

New Chapter

The club sought to acquire Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across two seasons at Orient and has quickly replicated that in south Wales. At the London club he reunited with the coach, who previously gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in professional games on loan at Doncaster from Old Trafford. Then came a spell at League Two the Manchester club, before he moved on from Manchester United.

Growth Journey

"I was likely a somewhat inexperienced going into senior level. I think many athletes would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it feels like play is circulated without much intensity. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adapt rapidly."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that development for both domestically and internationally, excelling for Northern Ireland, who remain in contention for the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has featured in the past five games, including two matches encounters against a football powerhouse. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's previous international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he handles the football and his eye for a decisive through ball.

Early Days

This represents quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside the capital, who grew up watching his father, the elder Galbraith, also a engine room operator, play for a local club.

Manchester United Experience

His single match for the Red Devils came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the host city, where they competed on an synthetic surface and the venue ceiling was shut owing to conditions of bitter cold. "That proved to be a lengthy journey and it was chilly," he recalls, smiling. "The preceding week, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "The decision proved fairly simple, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it reached a stage where I thought I required a fresh start, join a smaller club and play men's football. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during the early part of the afternoon at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has an appointment at the early evening: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed player transport, a small coach driven by team personnel, the drivers, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"It's myself the Portuguese player, Ronald, an Ivorian player – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's nice to interact with the guys but I'm aiming to be the next one out of the minibus and on the road. The Portuguese player enjoys practical jokes; he's frequently playing tricks."

Public Engagement

When he represented Leyton Orient, Galbraith would mix with fans on public transport after beginning his trip at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim