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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he reminisces about the thrilling final moments of his team's epic comeback win against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The game culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the on-field celebration.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful effort from distance, and Cameron Burgess immediately converted the loose ball before racing off toward the East Stand to mark the goal, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Stunning Reversal

The result sealed an incredible recovery given Swansea had trailed 2-0 deep into the second half. During the celebrations, there was some minor mishaps. He shared, "There was a spectator 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 bit of banter 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."

Premier League Giants

The result secured a next round match at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with his former club in February. The athletic midfielder had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with a teammate's long-range effort from about way out going in via the bar and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've awarded it to him for attempting the shot from that far out," commented Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right defensive wing after the team changed formation. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the attacker was among the Manchester squad who paid tribute to the way the underdogs approached the match.

City's Quality

"Physically they are very good but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just do it over and over again," Galbraith says. "It seems as if they never miss a pass and they understand how to dictate and slow down a game. You can believe you're all right and then abruptly they will just thread a ball through a line without you even seeing. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and attention just to remain competitive."

Swansea Move

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to sign him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a popular figure across multiple campaigns at his former club and has quickly done the same in Wales. At his previous team he joined forces once more with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a spell at lower division Salford City, before he moved on from Manchester United.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a bit naive going into men's football. I think a lot of players would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it appears the ball is moved without much intensity. There's not many tackles or duels. Once you start playing first-team football you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

He has demonstrated that development for club and country, performing well for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the past five games, including home and away encounters against Germany. His former international manager, Galbraith's previous international manager, gave him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Early Days

This marks an incredible journey for the player from the Queens Park estate in the Belfast suburb, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his parent, his father, also a engine room operator, play for his father's team.

Old Trafford Memory

His only game for United came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to Astana, where they played on an synthetic surface and the venue ceiling was closed owing to conditions of -15C. "That proved to be a lengthy journey and it was freezing," he comments, grinning. "The preceding week, myself and quite a few of the young lads trained together, so that aided our adjustment. Just to travel with the first team and earn some playing time at the end was incredible."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "This turned out fairly simple, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it reached a stage where I felt I needed to go my own route, drop down the leagues and play professional soccer. Now I'm gradually progressing again."

New Environment

This occurs during the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called player transport, a team vehicle driven by club employees, the transport team, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's pleasant to socialize with the lads but I'm hoping to be the following person to stop using the bus and on the road. His teammate likes to pull a few pranks; he's frequently playing tricks."

Supporter Connections

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would mix with fans on London's Central line after beginning his trip at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim