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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he recalls the thrilling final moments of Swansea's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The encounter culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear amid the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range shot from distance, and Cameron Burgess quickly hammered in the loose ball before sprinting toward the home end to celebrate, with fans congregating around the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory capped an incredible turnaround given Swansea had found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second half. In the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a supporter shouting out and we were puzzled: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're individuals, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

That win booked a next round fixture at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the equivalent round 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 a teammate's volley from about way out going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. Many argued that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for attempting the shot from that distance," commented Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right flank after the team changed formation. That meant getting to grips with City's winger, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the opposition who praised the way Orient approached the match.

City's Quality

"Physically they are outstanding but even the basics and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," he explains. "It seems as if they never miss a pass and they understand how to dictate and take the sting out of a game. You can think you're all right and then abruptly they will just deliver a through ball between defenders without you even noticing. You have to be alert at all times of the game. It takes a strong mentality and concentration just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

The club sought to acquire Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a popular figure across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly done the same in south Wales. At his previous team he joined forces once more with Richie Wellens, who four years ago gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a loan at League Two the Manchester club, before he permanently left his boyhood club.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a bit naive going into men's football. I think a lot of players would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it seems possession is exchanged without real physicality. There are limited hard challenges. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

International Recognition

He has demonstrated that maturation for both domestically and internationally, shining for Northern Ireland, who remain in contention for the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has started the last several matches, including two matches games against a football powerhouse. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's former international manager, paid him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he handles the football and his knack for a decisive through ball.

Early Days

This represents a remarkable path for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his dad, the elder Galbraith, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

His only game for the Red Devils came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was shut owing to the weather of freezing cold. "That proved to be a extended travel and it was freezing," he says, chuckling. "The days leading up, several youth players and I trained together, so that aided our adjustment. Just to join the main group and get a couple of minutes at the end was incredible."

Moving On

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged his mid-teens? "It was relatively straightforward, because I reached the point where I understood I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm extremely thankful for the years at the club but it got to the point where I felt I needed to go my own route, move to a lower level and play professional soccer. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during the early part of the afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has an appointment at the early evening: a road rules assessment, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called player transport, a minibus driven by team personnel, the transport team, which shuttles players to and from training and matches.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, the Brazilian, an Ivorian player – Melker Widell used to be in it but has started driving. It's enjoyable to interact with the teammates but I'm aiming to be the next one to drive independently and on the road. Franco is known for his humor; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

While playing for his former club, Galbraith would mix with followers on the Tube after starting his journey at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim