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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the dramatic dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match ended with Galbraith briefly donning a supporter's spectacles amid the on-field celebration.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith cracked the upright with a long-range effort from distance, and Cameron Burgess promptly converted the deflection before racing off toward the home end to mark the goal, with the crowd congregating around the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory completed an incredible comeback given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 deep into the final 45 minutes. Amid the celebrations, there was some unintended consequences. He shared, "There was a supporter trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were wondering: '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."

Manchester City Challenge

The victory secured a upcoming game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. The athletic midfielder had arguably the best view when his former team took the lead in spectacular fashion, with a teammate's first-time shot from about 45 yards going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. Many argued that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before moving to right defensive wing after the team changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the attacker was among the City players who paid tribute to the way the underdogs approached the match.

Opponent's Class

"Fitness-wise they are very good but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," he explains. "It seems as if they always find their target and they are adept at manage and take the sting out of a game. You can think you're doing well and then without warning they will just thread a ball through a line without you even noticing. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It demands a strong mentality and focus just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

Swansea pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He became a favorite as a fans' favourite across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has quickly replicated that in Wales. At the London club he reunited with the coach, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in senior football on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a temporary move at lower division the Manchester club, before he departed Manchester United.

Development Path

"I was likely a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think a lot of players would say development squad matches is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without much intensity. There's not many hard challenges. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adapt rapidly."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that growth for club and country, shining for the Green and White Army, who could still reach the international competition next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the last several matches, including home and away encounters against the German national team. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, paid him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he handles the football and his knack for a killer pass.

Starting Out

This represents an incredible journey for the youngster from the local area in Glengormley, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who used to see his father, Stuart, also a central player, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

His sole appearance for the Red Devils came in Central Asia in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the Kazakh capital, where they featured on an plastic turf and the arena covering was closed owing to the weather of bitter cold. "It was a lengthy journey and it was chilly," he says, smiling. "The week before, the academy prospects practiced as a group, so that assisted our preparation. Just to join the main group and get a couple of minutes at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he transferred from aged his mid-teens? "It was fairly simple, because I reached the point where I knew I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it reached a stage where I thought I required a fresh start, move to a lower level and play first-team games. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."

Life in Swansea

This occurs during the middle of the day at the club's training ground but Galbraith has an appointment at the early evening: a learner's exam, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to his new neighborhood, the 24-year-old was a regular in Swansea's nicknamed fun bus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, the Brazilian, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's enjoyable to spend time with the lads but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual to stop using the bus and driving. The Portuguese player enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."

Fan Interactions

During his time at Leyton Orient, Galbraith would blend in with supporters on public transport after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim