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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he reminisces about the nail-biting closing stages of Swansea's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses amid the post-goal scrum.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a speculative effort from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess promptly converted the rebound before charging toward the crowd to celebrate, with supporters swarming the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

This capped an extraordinary turnaround given the team had been behind 2-0 deep into the final 45 minutes. In the delirium, there was some minor mishaps. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're humans, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The result booked a upcoming match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith ran close at the same stage of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. He had a prime vantage point when the underdogs 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 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 the team changed shape. That meant facing off against Jack Grealish, with whom he swapped shirts, and the winger was among the Manchester squad who paid tribute to the way the underdogs attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Fitness-wise they are very good but even the simple things and simple things, they can just perform consistently," he explains. "It seems as if they never miss a pass and they understand how to manage 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 past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be switched on every second of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and concentration just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

The club were keen on Galbraith in January and secured his signature to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a fans' favourite across a couple of years at Orient and has rapidly replicated that in Wales. At his previous team he reunited with Richie Wellens, who four years ago gave Galbraith his first extended run in senior football on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a spell at League Two the Manchester club, before he permanently left Old Trafford.

Development Path

"I was likely a slightly green going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without real physicality. There's not many hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."

National Team Success

His progress reflects that growth for both domestically and internationally, excelling for Northern Ireland, who are fighting to qualify for the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has been selected in the recent fixtures, including both legs fixtures against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, offered the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he manipulates the ball and his eye for a game-changing assist.

Humble Beginnings

This represents a remarkable path for the kid from the local area in Glengormley, just outside the capital, who used to see his parent, his father, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Manchester United Experience

The player's sole appearance for United came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the venue ceiling was closed owing to conditions of -15C. "That proved to be a long trip and it was freezing," he comments, chuckling. "The week before, several youth players and I worked out jointly, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to accompany the senior squad and earn some playing time at the end was amazing."

Moving On

How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "It was relatively straightforward, because I got to the stage where I knew I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm hugely grateful 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 gradually working my way back up."

Life in Swansea

This occurs during the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has an appointment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a regular in Swansea's so-called fun bus, a small coach driven by club employees, the transport team, which shuttles players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with a teammate, the Brazilian, the midfielder – Melker Widell used to be in it but has got his license. It's pleasant to spend time with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one out of the minibus and on the road. Franco enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."

Fan Interactions

During his time at Orient, Galbraith would mix with supporters on London's Central line after beginning his trip at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim