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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he reminisces about the nail-biting final moments of Swansea's remarkable turnaround win against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The encounter ended with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith struck the post with a powerful effort from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess quickly converted the loose ball before sprinting toward the crowd to celebrate, with supporters mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The victory completed an incredible turnaround given the team had been behind 2-0 midway through the second half. Amid the celebrations, there was some collateral damage. Galbraith explained, "There was a spectator trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

The result earned a upcoming match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with the London side in February. The athletic midfielder had an excellent perspective when Orient took the lead in stunning style, with a teammate's volley from about way out going in via the bar and the City goalkeeper. It seems unfair that it was recorded as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for having a go from that distance," says Galbraith, who played in the middle before switching to right flank after they changed shape. That meant facing off against City's winger, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the opposition who complimented the way his former team played positively.

City's Quality

"Physically they are exceptional but even the simple things and routine actions, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they always find their target and they are adept at dictate and slow down a game. You can think you're all right and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass through a line without you even seeing. You have to be focused every second of the game. It takes a strong mentality and focus just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

Swansea sought to acquire Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He became a favorite as a fans' favourite across two seasons at Orient and has rapidly done the same in south Wales. At the London club he joined forces once more with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in professional games on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a temporary move at League Two Salford, before he departed his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was perhaps a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think a lot of players would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without real physicality. There are limited tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to learn quickly."

Country Call-ups

He has shown that maturation for both domestically and internationally, shining for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has been selected in the past five games, including home and away games against the German national team. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Humble Beginnings

It has been a remarkable path for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Belfast, who was raised observing his parent, his father, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Manchester United Experience

His only game for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a Europa League trip to Astana, where they competed on an plastic turf and the venue ceiling was shut owing to temperatures of -15C. "That proved to be a long trip and it was freezing," he says, smiling. "The week before, several youth players and I worked out jointly, so that aided our adjustment. Just to join the main group and make an appearance at the end was amazing."

Moving On

How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "The decision proved quite easy, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wouldn't break through at the top level. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it reached a stage where I thought I required a fresh start, move to a lower level and play first-team games. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

New Environment

This occurs during the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a constant rider in Swansea's dubbed team minibus, a small coach driven by club employees, the transport team, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with the Portuguese player, the Brazilian, Malick Yalcouyé – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the lads but I'm hoping to be the following person to stop using the bus and behind the wheel. The Portuguese player enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."

Fan Interactions

When he represented his former club, Galbraith would mix with supporters on the Tube after beginning his trip at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim