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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of Swansea's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith picking up a supporter's spectacles amid the pitch-side pile-on.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful shot from distance, and his teammate immediately hammered in the rebound before sprinting toward the home end to revel in the moment, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result completed an extraordinary recovery given Swansea had trailed 2-0 during the latter period. Amid the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a fan sort of calling out and Josh Key and I were wondering: '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 players but we're individuals, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The result booked a next round game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with the London side in February. The athletic midfielder had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in spectacular fashion, with Jamie Donley's long-range effort from about way out going in via the crossbar and the opposition keeper. Many argued that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that far out," says Galbraith, who started in midfield before moving to right flank after the team changed formation. That meant getting to grips with City's winger, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the opposition who praised the way the underdogs attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the basics and basic skills, they can just perform consistently," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they complete every delivery and they know how to control and take the sting out of a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then abruptly they will just fizz a pass through a line without you even seeing. You have to be focused throughout of the game. It requires a tough attitude and attention just to keep pace."

Swansea Move

Swansea pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to sign him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a fans' favourite across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has swiftly achieved similar status in south Wales. At Orient he joined forces once more with the coach, who earlier gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in senior football on loan at a League One side from Manchester United. Then came a loan at lower division the Manchester club, before he departed Old Trafford.

Development Path

"I was probably a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without real physicality. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing men's games you have to adjust fast."

International Recognition

He has shown that maturation for his team and nation, shining for his national side, who remain in contention for the international competition next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has started the past five games, including both legs fixtures against Germany. The ex-coach, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.

Starting Out

This marks quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in the Belfast suburb, just outside Belfast, who grew up watching his father, Stuart, also a midfielder, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

His only game for United came in Central Asia in 2019, a European competition trip to the host city, where they featured on an plastic turf and the venue ceiling was sealed owing to conditions of freezing cold. "It was a long trip and it was chilly," he says, smiling. "The days leading up, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to join the main group and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Moving On

How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged a teenager? "It was relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the top level. I'm hugely grateful for the years at the club but it became apparent where I believed I required a fresh start, drop down the leagues and play professional soccer. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at the early evening: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the young professional was a constant rider in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a small coach driven by club employees, the drivers, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with a teammate, another squad member, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's enjoyable to interact with the guys but I'm hoping to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and behind the wheel. His teammate is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."

Fan Interactions

When he represented Orient, Galbraith would mix with supporters on the Tube after commuting at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim