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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he reminisces about the dramatic dying seconds of his team's remarkable turnaround triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear following the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith struck the post with a speculative shot from distance, and Cameron Burgess immediately converted the loose ball before charging toward the home end to revel in the moment, with the crowd swarming the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory sealed an unbelievable recovery given Swansea had been behind 2-0 midway through the latter period. Amid the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] 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 humans, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

The result secured a next round game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had an excellent perspective when his former team took the lead in stunning style, with the attacker's long-range effort from about long distance going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It seems unfair that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for having a go from that range," says Galbraith, who started in midfield before switching to right defensive wing after the team changed formation. That meant facing off against the England international, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the Manchester squad who praised the way the underdogs approached the match.

Guardiola's System

"Physically they are very good but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just perform consistently," the midfielder notes. "It seems as if they complete every delivery and they are adept at manage and take the sting out of a game. You can believe you're doing well and then suddenly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be focused every second of the game. It demands a tough attitude and focus just to remain competitive."

Swansea Move

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a fans' favourite across two seasons at his former club and has rapidly replicated that in Wales. At his previous team he reunited with his former manager, who earlier gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from Manchester United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford City, before he departed Manchester United.

Development Path

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into professional soccer. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is completely distinct. Sometimes it feels like play is circulated without serious challenge. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has shown that development for club and country, performing well for the Green and White Army, who could still reach the international competition 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 previous international manager, offered the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he handles the football and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Early Days

This marks a remarkable path for the youngster from the local area in the Belfast suburb, just outside Belfast, who used to see his dad, the elder Galbraith, also a central player, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

Galbraith's only game for Manchester United came in Central Asia in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the Kazakh capital, where they played on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was shut owing to the weather of bitter cold. "This represented a extended travel and it was cold out there," he comments, smiling. "The days leading up, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and earn some playing time at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged his mid-teens? "The decision proved relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at the senior squad. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it became apparent where I thought I had to take a different path, drop down the leagues and play first-team games. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

Life in Swansea

It is the early part of the afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at late afternoon: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a constant rider in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which shuttles players to and from training and matches.

"I travel with a teammate, the Brazilian, an Ivorian player – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's pleasant to socialize with the guys but I'm hoping to be the next one to drive independently and driving. His teammate enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."

Supporter Connections

During his time at Leyton Orient, Galbraith would blend in with fans on the Tube after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim