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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the nail-biting dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The game culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the pitch-side pile-on.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a speculative shot from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess immediately converted the rebound before racing off toward the East Stand to revel in the moment, with supporters mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result completed an incredible turnaround given the team had found themselves down 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. During the euphoria, there was some unintended consequences. Galbraith explained, "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 spotted the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The result booked a fourth-round fixture at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's first-time shot 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 credited him for attempting the shot from that distance," commented Galbraith, who started in midfield before moving to right flank after Orient changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the winger was among the Manchester squad who complimented the way his former team approached the match.

City's Quality

"Athletically they are very good but even the basics and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they never miss a pass and they understand how to dictate and neutralize a game. You can believe you're all right and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball through a line without you even spotting it. You have to be switched on at all times of the game. It takes a tough attitude and attention just to keep pace."

Welsh Transition

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He established himself as a popular figure across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has quickly done the same in south Wales. At his previous team he joined forces once more with Richie Wellens, who four years ago gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a spell at League Two Salford, before he moved on from his boyhood club.

Development Path

"I was likely a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think a lot of players would say under-23s football is entirely separate. Sometimes it feels like possession is exchanged without serious challenge. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing first-team football you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that development for club and country, performing well for his national side, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has been selected in the recent fixtures, including home and away fixtures against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's previous international manager, paid him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he manipulates the ball and his knack for a killer pass.

Starting Out

This represents a remarkable path for the youngster from the local area in Glengormley, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his father, his father, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's single match for Manchester United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a European competition trip to Astana, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the stadium roof was closed owing to the weather of -15C. "That proved to be a long trip and it was chilly," he comments, smiling. "The week before, myself and quite a few of the young lads practiced as a group, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and get a couple of minutes at the end was incredible."

Moving On

How hard was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "It was quite easy, because I got to the stage where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the top level. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it became apparent where I felt I needed to go my own route, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

New Environment

This occurs during mid-afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has somewhere to be at late afternoon: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a constant rider in Swansea's dubbed team minibus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, the drivers, which shuttles players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"I travel with the Portuguese player, the Brazilian, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's enjoyable to spend time with the guys but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and driving. The Portuguese player likes to pull a few pranks; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

While playing for his former club, Galbraith would mix with supporters on public transport after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim