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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he recalls the nail-biting closing stages of his team's epic comeback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. That match wrapped up with Galbraith briefly donning a fan's glasses after the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful shot from outside the box, and the defender promptly converted the loose ball before charging toward the East Stand to celebrate, with fans mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

This capped an extraordinary turnaround given Swansea had trailed 2-0 during the latter period. Amid the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. The midfielder recalled, "There was a spectator sort of calling out and we were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're individuals, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The victory secured a fourth-round fixture at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with his former club in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in stunning style, with the attacker's long-range effort from about long distance going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. It feels criminal that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for attempting the shot from that range," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right wing-back after they changed shape. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the opposition who complimented the way Orient attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Athletically they are very good but even the basics and simple things, they can just perform consistently," the midfielder notes. "It seems as if they always find their target and they are adept at manage and slow down a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then without warning they will just fizz a pass between defenders without you even noticing. You have to be focused every second of the game. It demands a strong mentality and attention just to remain competitive."

Swansea Move

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He made a name as a fans' favourite across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly replicated that in Wales. At Orient he joined forces once more with his former manager, who earlier gave Galbraith his first extended run in senior football on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a temporary move at fourth-tier Salford City, before he departed Manchester United.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a slightly green going into professional soccer. I think a lot of players would say development squad matches is completely distinct. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without much intensity. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing first-team football you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that development for both domestically and internationally, shining for the Green and White Army, who are fighting to qualify for the international competition next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the last several matches, including two matches fixtures against a football powerhouse. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, offered the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he handles the football and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Starting Out

It has been quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in Glengormley, just outside Belfast, who used to see his dad, Stuart, also a midfielder, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

The player's single match for United came in Central Asia in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the host city, where they competed on an synthetic surface and the arena covering was shut owing to the weather of freezing cold. "This represented a long trip and it was cold out there," he recalls, chuckling. "The days leading up, several youth players and I trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and make an appearance at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "This turned out quite easy, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I wasn't going to make it at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it became apparent where I thought I had to take a different path, drop down the leagues and play professional soccer. Now I'm gradually progressing again."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has somewhere to be at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the young professional was a frequent passenger in Swansea's dubbed fun bus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, the drivers, which ferries players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"It's myself Gonçalo Franco, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – Melker Widell used to be in it but has got his license. It's pleasant to spend time with the lads but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual to stop using the bus and driving. His teammate likes to pull a few pranks; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

While playing for Orient, Galbraith would blend in with followers on London's Central line after commuting at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim