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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he reminisces about the nail-biting final moments of Swansea's remarkable turnaround victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match ended with Galbraith briefly donning a spectator's eyewear after the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a speculative effort from 25 yards, and his teammate quickly hammered in the rebound before racing off toward the East Stand to revel in the moment, with supporters mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

This sealed an unbelievable comeback given the team had trailed 2-0 deep into the latter period. During the delirium, there was some collateral damage. The midfielder recalled, "There was a supporter shouting out and Josh Key and I were wondering: '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 athletes but we're individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

The result secured a next round game at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with the London side in February. He had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with Jamie Donley's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the woodwork and the Stefan Ortega. Many argued that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've credited him for having a go from that far out," commented Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right wing-back after Orient changed tactics. That meant facing off against Jack Grealish, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the opposition who complimented the way Orient played positively.

Opponent's Class

"Physically they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," Galbraith says. "It feels like they always find their target and they are adept at manage and neutralize a game. You can feel you're doing well and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass between defenders without you even spotting it. You have to be alert every second of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and attention just to remain competitive."

Welsh Transition

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a fans' favourite across two seasons at Leyton Orient and has quickly done the same in south Wales. At his previous team he joined forces once more with his former manager, who earlier gave Galbraith his first extended run in professional games on loan at his loan club from Manchester United. Then came a spell at League Two the Manchester club, before he permanently left Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a slightly green going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without serious challenge. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

International Recognition

He has demonstrated that development for his team and nation, excelling for his national side, who are fighting to qualify for the international competition next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has started the past five games, including both legs encounters against Germany. His former international manager, Galbraith's former international manager, paid him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Early Days

It has been a remarkable path for the youngster from the neighborhood in his hometown, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his dad, Stuart, also a midfielder, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

The player's sole appearance for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a Europa League trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the stadium roof was closed owing to conditions of freezing cold. "That proved to be a lengthy journey and it was freezing," he recalls, smiling. "The days leading up, several youth players and I trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and make an appearance at the end was incredible."

Moving On

How hard was it to leave United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged 16? "It was relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at the senior squad. I'm extremely thankful for the years at the club but it became apparent where I thought I required a fresh start, drop down the leagues and play men's football. Now I'm gradually progressing again."

Life in Swansea

It is the middle of the day at the club's training ground but Galbraith has an appointment at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another progress toward getting on the road. Before his recent move to his new neighborhood, the young professional was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed fun bus, a small coach driven by club employees, the transport team, which ferries players to and from training and matches.

"My companions include the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to socialize with the lads but I'm aiming to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and on the road. The Portuguese player likes to pull a few pranks; he's constantly causing mischief."

Supporter Connections

When he represented his former club, Galbraith would mix with followers on the Tube after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim