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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the nail-biting dying seconds of Swansea's remarkable turnaround triumph against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. That match ended with Galbraith picking up a spectator's eyewear after the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a long-range shot from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess quickly slammed home the deflection before racing off toward the crowd to revel in the moment, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

The result capped an unbelievable recovery given the team had been behind 2-0 midway through the second half. In the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a supporter shouting out and we were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're humans, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

That win booked a next round match at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with a teammate's first-time shot from about way out going in via the woodwork and the City goalkeeper. It seems unfair that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've given it to him for taking the effort on from that far out," commented Galbraith, who began the game centrally before shifting to right flank after the team changed formation. That meant facing off against the England international, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the City players who paid tribute to the way the underdogs approached the match.

City's Quality

"Fitness-wise they are outstanding but even the simple things and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," Galbraith says. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they understand how to dictate and take the sting out of a game. You can feel you're all right and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It requires a tough attitude and focus just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

The club were keen on Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a popular figure across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly achieved similar status in south Wales. At Orient he joined forces once more with the coach, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at Doncaster from United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford, before he permanently left Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was probably a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say youth team games is completely distinct. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without real physicality. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to learn quickly."

International Recognition

He has shown that development for both domestically and internationally, shining for his national side, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has started the recent fixtures, including home and away games against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, gave him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he manipulates the ball and his eye for a decisive through ball.

Early Days

This marks quite the ride for the player from the local area in the Belfast suburb, just outside Belfast, who used to see his dad, his father, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's sole appearance for Manchester United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a Europa League trip to Astana, where they played on an plastic turf and the arena covering was closed owing to the weather of bitter cold. "It was a long trip and it was chilly," he says, smiling. "The preceding week, the academy prospects trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

How hard was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "The decision proved relatively straightforward, because I got to the stage where I knew I couldn't establish myself at first-team level. I'm very appreciative for the years at the club but it got to the point where I felt I required a fresh start, move to a lower level and play first-team games. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."

New Environment

This occurs during mid-afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another progress toward getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a frequent passenger in Swansea's dubbed team minibus, a team vehicle driven by team personnel, the transport team, which ferries players to and from practice and games.

"It's myself the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – 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 planning to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and behind the wheel. His teammate enjoys practical jokes; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

When he represented Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside followers on public transport after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim