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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of Swansea's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a speculative effort from outside the box, and his teammate promptly slammed home the rebound before sprinting toward the East Stand to revel in the moment, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory capped an incredible turnaround given the team had found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second half. In the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan sort of calling out and we were puzzled: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a funny incident putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

That win earned a upcoming fixture at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had arguably the best view when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with a teammate's long-range effort from about way out going in via the crossbar and the City goalkeeper. Many argued that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've credited him for having a go from that range," commented Galbraith, who started in midfield before moving to right defensive wing after Orient changed formation. That meant getting to grips 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

"Physically they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and simple things, they can just execute repeatedly," Galbraith says. "It appears that they complete every delivery and they are adept at dictate and slow down a game. You can believe you're doing well and then without warning they will just fizz a pass between defenders without you even seeing. You have to be switched on throughout of the game. It requires a resilient mindset and attention just to keep pace."

New Chapter

The club were keen on Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He became a favorite as a fans' favourite across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has rapidly replicated that in south Wales. At the London club he linked up again with his former manager, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in first-team action on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a spell at lower division Salford, before he departed his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was probably a somewhat inexperienced going into professional soccer. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it feels like possession is exchanged without real physicality. There are limited tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adapt rapidly."

International Recognition

He has shown that growth for both domestically and internationally, excelling for Northern Ireland, who could still reach the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has been selected in the last several matches, including both legs games against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's former international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he controls possession and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Starting Out

It has been quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his dad, his father, also a central player, play for a local club.

Manchester United Experience

The player's sole appearance for United came in Central Asia in 2019, a Europa League trip to Astana, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was sealed owing to the weather of freezing cold. "This represented a lengthy journey and it was chilly," he says, grinning. "The preceding week, several youth players and I worked out jointly, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to join the main group and make an appearance at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

How difficult was it to depart Manchester United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged 16? "This turned out quite easy, because I reached the point where I realized I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm hugely grateful for the time I spent there but it became apparent where I believed I needed to go my own route, join a smaller club and play men's football. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at 5pm: a learner's exam, another step towards getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the young professional was a constant rider in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a small coach driven by club employees, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"My companions include the Portuguese player, Ronald, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has started driving. It's enjoyable to socialize with the lads but I'm hoping to be the following person out of the minibus and on the road. The Portuguese player is known for his humor; he's always up to all sorts."

Supporter Connections

While playing for Leyton Orient, 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