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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he reminisces about the thrilling dying seconds of Swansea's stunning fightback win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match ended with Galbraith briefly donning a spectator's eyewear amid the on-field celebration.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith struck the post with a long-range strike from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess promptly hammered in the deflection before racing off toward the home end to celebrate, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Stunning Reversal

The result completed an unbelievable recovery given the team had trailed 2-0 midway through the latter period. During the celebrations, there was some collateral damage. He shared, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were puzzled: '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 athletes but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

That win secured a fourth-round game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with the London side in February. The athletic midfielder had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with a teammate's volley from about 45 yards going in via the crossbar and the Stefan Ortega. It feels criminal that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for attempting the shot from that far out," commented Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right defensive wing after the team changed formation. That meant facing off against the England international, with whom he traded tops, and the attacker was among the opposition who praised the way Orient attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Athletically they are outstanding but even the simple things and basic skills, they can just execute repeatedly," he explains. "It appears that they complete every delivery and they understand how to dictate and slow down a game. You can think you're all right and then suddenly they will just thread a ball between defenders without you even seeing. You have to be focused every second of the game. It takes a strong mentality and concentration just to stay in the game."

Welsh Transition

Swansea sought to acquire Galbraith in January and secured his signature to bring him in in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He became a favorite as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has rapidly done the same in his new home. At his previous team he reunited with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from Manchester United. Then came a loan at fourth-tier the Manchester club, before he permanently left Manchester United.

Learning Curve

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it appears the ball is moved without much intensity. You see few tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to learn quickly."

International Recognition

He has shown that maturation for his team and nation, excelling for his national side, who could still reach the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has featured in the last several matches, including two matches games against a football powerhouse. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's former international manager, offered the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Humble Beginnings

This represents an incredible journey for the player from the local area in the Belfast suburb, just outside Belfast, who was raised observing his father, his father, also a midfielder, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

The player's single match for United came in Central Asia in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was shut owing to conditions of bitter cold. "It was a long trip and it was freezing," he comments, smiling. "The preceding week, several youth players and I practiced as a group, so that aided our adjustment. Just to join the main group and earn some playing time at the end was unbelievable."

Moving On

How hard was it to depart Manchester United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged a teenager? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I reached the point where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the top level. I'm very appreciative for the experience gained but it got to the point where I thought I needed to go my own route, drop down the leagues and play first-team games. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

Life in Swansea

It is mid-afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at the early evening: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to his new neighborhood, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called fun bus, a minibus driven by club employees, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"It's myself a teammate, the Brazilian, Malick Yalcouyé – Melker Widell used to be in it but has started driving. It's pleasant to interact with the guys but I'm aiming to be the next one out of the minibus and driving. His teammate is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

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