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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback win against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The encounter wrapped up with Galbraith briefly donning a supporter's spectacles after the on-field celebration.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith struck the post with a speculative strike from outside the box, and the defender quickly hammered in the deflection before sprinting toward the crowd to mark the goal, with fans mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

The victory sealed an unbelievable recovery given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. Amid the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a spectator sort of calling out and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] 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."

Pep Guardiola Test

The victory earned a next round match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith pushed hard at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. He had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with a teammate's long-range effort from about way out going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It seems unfair that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for taking the effort on from that range," stated Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right flank after Orient changed formation. That meant competing with the England international, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the opposition who paid tribute to the way the underdogs attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Fitness-wise they are very good but even the simple things and basic skills, they can just do it over and over again," Galbraith says. "It seems as if they never miss a pass and they know how to manage and neutralize a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball through a line without you even seeing. You have to be alert throughout of the game. It requires a resilient mindset and focus just to keep pace."

Swansea Move

The club sought to acquire Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has quickly done the same in south Wales. At his previous team he reunited with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in first-team action on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford, before he departed Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was probably a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think numerous professionals would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it seems possession is exchanged without real physicality. You see few tackles or duels. Once you start playing first-team football you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

His progress reflects that development for club and country, excelling for his national side, who are fighting to qualify for the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has been selected in the last several matches, including home and away games against Germany. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave 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 game-changing assist.

Early Days

This represents an incredible journey for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in Glengormley, just outside Belfast, who used to see his dad, the elder Galbraith, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Red Devils Debut

Galbraith's single match for the Red Devils came in Central Asia in 2019, a Europa League trip to Astana, where they played on an synthetic surface and the stadium roof was closed owing to the weather of -15C. "This represented a long trip and it was cold out there," he recalls, smiling. "The preceding week, several youth players and I trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and earn some playing time at the end was incredible."

Moving On

How difficult was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "It was quite easy, because I got to the stage where I knew I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained 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 progressing again."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at the early evening: a learner's exam, another progress toward getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's nicknamed fun bus, a team vehicle driven by team personnel, the drivers, which ferries players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, another squad member, Malick Yalcouyé – a former passenger used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's nice to interact with the lads but I'm planning to be the next one to drive independently and behind the wheel. The Portuguese player enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

During his time at his former club, Galbraith would mix with fans on London's Central line after starting his journey at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim