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Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of his team's remarkable turnaround triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the on-field celebration.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort from 25 yards, and his teammate immediately slammed home the deflection before sprinting toward the home end to revel in the moment, with fans mobbing the players.

Stunning Reversal

The victory sealed an extraordinary turnaround given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 deep into the final 45 minutes. In the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. The midfielder recalled, "There was a supporter trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a funny incident putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're humans, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Manchester City Challenge

The victory earned a fourth-round match at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a club Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the crossbar and the opposition keeper. It seems unfair that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've credited him for taking the effort on from that range," says Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right flank after they changed shape. That meant getting to grips with City's winger, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the Manchester squad who paid tribute to the way the underdogs approached the match.

Guardiola's System

"Physically they are outstanding but even the basics and simple things, they can just perform consistently," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they never miss a pass and they are adept at control and slow down a game. You can believe you're doing well and then abruptly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be focused every second of the game. It takes a resilient mindset and concentration just to remain competitive."

Welsh Transition

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He made a name as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has quickly achieved similar status in south Wales. At the London club he reunited with the coach, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at Doncaster from United. Then came a loan at fourth-tier the Manchester club, before he permanently left Manchester United.

Development Path

"I was perhaps a bit naive going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it appears possession is exchanged without real physicality. There are limited tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has demonstrated that development for club and country, excelling for the Green and White Army, who could still reach the international competition next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has started the recent fixtures, including home and away encounters against the German national team. The ex-coach, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Starting Out

It has been quite the ride for the youngster from the neighborhood in the Belfast suburb, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who was raised observing his parent, his father, also a engine room operator, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

Galbraith's single match for Manchester United came in the away trip in 2019, a continental tournament trip to Astana, where they featured on an plastic turf and the stadium roof was shut owing to the weather of -15C. "That proved to be a long trip and it was chilly," he says, grinning. "The preceding week, several youth players and I practiced as a group, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and make an appearance at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to leave United, the club he transferred from aged his mid-teens? "The decision proved quite easy, because I reached the point where I knew I wasn't going to make it at the senior squad. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it became apparent where I thought I had to take a different path, join a smaller club and play first-team games. Now I'm gradually working my way back up."

Life in Swansea

It is mid-afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at late afternoon: a driving theory test, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a constant rider in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a small coach driven by team personnel, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from training and matches.

"My companions include the Portuguese player, the Brazilian, the midfielder – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's enjoyable to socialize with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one out of the minibus and on the road. His teammate likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

When he represented Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside followers on London's Central line after starting his journey at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim