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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he recalls the dramatic dying seconds of his team's epic comeback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. That match ended with Galbraith picking up a supporter's spectacles amid the on-field celebration.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a long-range shot from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess promptly converted the loose ball before racing off toward the home end to mark the goal, with the crowd swarming the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result capped an unbelievable turnaround given the Welsh side had found themselves down 2-0 during the latter period. In the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. He shared, "There was a supporter shouting out and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were wondering: '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 footballers but we're humans, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The result secured a next round match at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, a team Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. He had arguably the best view when his former team took the lead in spectacular fashion, with Jamie Donley's long-range effort from about way out going in via the woodwork and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for taking the effort on from that distance," says Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right flank after they changed tactics. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the opposition who complimented the way his former team played positively.

Opponent's Class

"Athletically they are very good but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It seems as if they always find their target and they understand how to dictate and slow down a game. You can think you're doing well and then suddenly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be focused every second of the game. It requires a tough attitude and concentration just to remain competitive."

New Chapter

Swansea pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to bring him in in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He became a favorite as a popular figure across multiple campaigns at Orient and has rapidly done the same in Wales. At the London club he joined forces once more with the coach, who earlier gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at Doncaster from United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford, before he moved on from Old Trafford.

Growth Journey

"I was likely a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say under-23s football is completely distinct. Sometimes it feels like play is circulated without much intensity. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has demonstrated that maturation for his team and nation, excelling for the Green and White Army, who could still reach the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has been selected in the past five games, including two matches encounters against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a decisive through ball.

Starting Out

This represents an incredible journey for the player from the neighborhood in his hometown, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his dad, his father, also a engine room operator, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

Galbraith's sole appearance for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to the host city, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the stadium roof was sealed owing to temperatures of freezing cold. "It was a lengthy journey and it was chilly," he recalls, grinning. "The preceding week, several youth players and I worked out jointly, so that aided our adjustment. Just to travel with the first team and make an appearance at the end was amazing."

Departing Old Trafford

How hard was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I got to the stage where I knew I wasn't going to make it at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the time I spent there but it got to the point where I believed I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm slowly progressing again."

Welsh Adaptation

It is 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 progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to his new neighborhood, the 24-year-old was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, the transport team, which ferries players to and from training and matches.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, Ronald, an Ivorian player – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one to drive independently and on the road. His teammate likes to pull a few pranks; he's frequently playing tricks."

Fan Interactions

When he represented Orient, Galbraith would blend in with fans on the Tube after beginning his trip at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim