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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he recalls the dramatic final moments of his team's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The encounter wrapped up with Galbraith picking up a spectator's eyewear after the on-field celebration.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a speculative strike from 25 yards, and the defender promptly slammed home the rebound before racing off toward the East Stand to mark the goal, with fans swarming the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

The result sealed an extraordinary comeback given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 deep into the latter period. During the euphoria, there was some collateral damage. He shared, "There was a supporter trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a funny incident putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're individuals, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The result earned a upcoming match at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a club Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with the London side in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when Orient took the lead in stunning style, with Jamie Donley's volley from about 45 yards going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. It seems unfair that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for attempting the shot from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right wing-back after they changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the attacker was among the City players who praised the way his former team attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they understand how to control and take the sting out of a game. You can think you're doing well and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball through a line without you even noticing. You have to be switched on every second of the game. It requires a resilient mindset and focus just to remain competitive."

New Chapter

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to bring him in in the summer in a significant move. He made a name as a fans' favourite across multiple campaigns at Leyton Orient and has quickly replicated that in Wales. At his previous team he reunited with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in first-team action on loan at his loan club from Manchester United. Then came a spell at League Two Salford City, before he departed Manchester United.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a slightly green going into senior level. I think a lot of players would say development squad matches is entirely separate. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without real physicality. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has shown that growth for both domestically and internationally, performing well for his national side, who are fighting to qualify for the international competition next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has featured in the past five games, including home and away encounters against the German national team. His former international manager, Galbraith's previous international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he handles the football and his ability to spot a decisive through ball.

Starting Out

This marks quite the ride for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who was raised observing his father, Stuart, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

His only game for United came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an plastic turf and the arena covering was sealed owing to the weather of -15C. "It was a long trip and it was freezing," he says, chuckling. "The week before, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and get a couple of minutes at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

How hard was it to leave United, the club he transferred from aged 16? "The decision proved fairly simple, because I got to the stage where I realized I couldn't establish myself at the top level. I'm hugely grateful for the years at the club but it became apparent where I thought I had to take a different path, join a smaller club and play first-team games. Now I'm gradually climbing the ladder."

New Environment

This occurs during the middle of the day at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at 5pm: a road rules assessment, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to the local area, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a team vehicle driven by team personnel, Pete and Howard, which ferries players to and from training and matches.

"It's myself a teammate, the Brazilian, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has got his license. It's enjoyable to interact with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one out of the minibus and behind the wheel. Franco enjoys practical jokes; he's constantly causing mischief."

Fan Interactions

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would mix with followers on public transport after commuting at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim