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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he recalls the dramatic final moments of Swansea's epic comeback win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a supporter's spectacles amid the on-field celebration.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a speculative strike from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess promptly slammed home the deflection before racing off toward the crowd to celebrate, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

This capped an incredible recovery given the team had found themselves down 2-0 deep into the final 45 minutes. In the celebrations, there was some minor mishaps. He shared, "There was a fan sort of calling out and Josh Key and I were thinking: '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 people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The victory secured 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 an excellent perspective when his former team took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's first-time shot from about 45 yards going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It feels criminal that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've given it to him for taking the effort on from that distance," stated Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right defensive wing after Orient changed shape. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the City players who complimented the way his former team played positively.

City's Quality

"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the basics and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," Galbraith says. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they understand how to manage and slow down a game. You can feel you're doing well and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass between defenders without you even noticing. You have to be switched on throughout of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and focus just to remain competitive."

New Chapter

Swansea were keen on Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has rapidly done the same in Wales. At Orient he linked up again with his former manager, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in senior football on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a loan at League Two Salford, before he permanently left Old Trafford.

Growth Journey

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into men's football. I think many athletes would say youth team games is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears possession is exchanged without real physicality. There's not many hard challenges. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that maturation for his team and nation, performing well for Northern Ireland, who remain in contention for the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the recent fixtures, including home and away encounters against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.

Early Days

It has been quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in Glengormley, just outside Belfast, who grew up watching his parent, Stuart, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Manchester United Experience

His single match for Manchester United came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to Astana, where they featured on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was sealed owing to temperatures of -15C. "That proved to be a lengthy journey and it was freezing," he says, smiling. "The week before, several youth players and I worked out jointly, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to travel with the first team and earn some playing time at the end was unbelievable."

Moving On

What was the challenge was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm extremely thankful for the experience gained but it became apparent where I felt I required a fresh start, drop down the leagues and play first-team games. Now I'm slowly climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has somewhere to be at the early evening: a learner's exam, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to the local area, the young professional was a frequent passenger in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which ferries players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"It's myself a teammate, the Brazilian, Malick Yalcouyé – a former passenger used to be in it but has got his license. It's pleasant to socialize with the guys but I'm aiming to be the following person to stop using the bus and on the road. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would mix with followers on London's Central line after commuting at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim