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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he remembers the dramatic closing stages of his team's epic comeback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. That match culminated with Galbraith picking up a spectator's eyewear after the post-goal scrum.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith struck the post with a powerful strike from distance, and Cameron Burgess quickly slammed home the rebound before sprinting toward the home end to celebrate, with the crowd congregating around the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory capped an extraordinary turnaround given the team had been behind 2-0 deep into the latter period. In the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a supporter shouting out and we were puzzled: '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 people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The victory booked a fourth-round game at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith pushed hard at the same stage of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. He had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with the attacker's volley from about long distance going in via the woodwork and the Stefan Ortega. It seems unfair that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that distance," commented Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right defensive wing after the team changed formation. That meant facing off against City's winger, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the opposition who complimented the way his former team attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Fitness-wise they are outstanding but even the simple things and basic skills, they can just do it over and over again," he explains. "It seems as if they always find their target and they are adept at control and neutralize a game. You can believe you're all right and then without warning they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be alert every second of the game. It takes a tough attitude and concentration just to stay in the game."

New Chapter

The club 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 crowd pleaser across two seasons at his former club and has swiftly done the same in his new home. At the London club he linked up again with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from Old Trafford. Then came a loan at fourth-tier the Manchester club, before he departed his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was probably a bit naive going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say development squad matches is completely distinct. Sometimes it seems possession is exchanged without serious challenge. There's not many physical contests. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

His progress reflects that growth for his team and nation, excelling for his national side, who could still reach the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has started the past five games, including two matches games against the German national team. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he manipulates the ball and his knack for a game-changing assist.

Starting Out

This marks a remarkable path for the player from the Queens Park estate in Glengormley, just outside Belfast, who used to see his dad, the elder Galbraith, also a engine room operator, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

The player's single match for the Red Devils came in Central Asia in 2019, a Europa League trip to the host city, where they featured on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was sealed owing to the weather of freezing cold. "This represented a long trip and it was chilly," he recalls, grinning. "The days leading up, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and earn some playing time at the end was unbelievable."

Departing Old Trafford

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "The decision proved relatively straightforward, because I got to the stage where I realized I wasn't going to make it at the top level. I'm extremely thankful for the time I spent there but it reached a stage where I thought I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm steadily progressing again."

New Environment

It is the early part of the afternoon at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has a commitment at the early evening: a learner's exam, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the young professional was a frequent passenger in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, the transport team, which transports players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"My companions include Gonçalo Franco, another squad member, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the teammates but I'm planning to be the next one out of the minibus and behind the wheel. His teammate is known for his humor; he's frequently playing tricks."

Fan Interactions

While playing for Orient, Galbraith would mix with fans on the Tube after starting his journey at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim