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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of his team's epic comeback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a supporter's spectacles amid the on-field celebration.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful strike from outside the box, and his teammate immediately converted the loose ball before sprinting toward the East Stand to celebrate, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

This sealed an incredible comeback given the team had been behind 2-0 midway through the latter period. During the delirium, there was some unintended consequences. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan shouting out and Josh Key and I 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 individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

That win secured a next round game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith ran close at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. The athletic midfielder had a prime vantage point when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with a teammate's volley from about 45 yards going in via the crossbar and the Stefan Ortega. It seems unfair that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've awarded it to him for having a go from that distance," says Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right flank after the team changed shape. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the winger was among the City players who paid tribute to the way the underdogs attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Physically they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It seems as if they complete every delivery and they are adept at control and neutralize a game. You can think you're all right and then suddenly they will just thread a ball through a line without you even spotting it. You have to be alert throughout of the game. It takes a tough attitude and focus just to remain competitive."

New Chapter

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He made a name as a popular figure across a couple of years at Orient and has swiftly done the same in his new home. At the London club he joined forces once more with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in senior football on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a temporary move at lower division the Manchester club, before he moved on from Manchester United.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a slightly green going into senior level. I think many athletes would say youth team games is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without serious challenge. There's not many tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adjust fast."

Country Call-ups

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 playoffs and for whom he has started the last several matches, including two matches encounters against the German national team. His former international manager, Galbraith's previous 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 game-changing assist.

Humble Beginnings

It has been an incredible journey for the youngster from the local area in the Belfast suburb, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his father, the elder Galbraith, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's only game for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the Kazakh capital, where they played on an synthetic surface and the arena covering was sealed owing to temperatures of -15C. "That proved to be a long trip and it was chilly," he says, smiling. "The preceding week, myself and quite a few of the young lads practiced as a group, so that aided our adjustment. Just to accompany the senior squad and make an appearance at the end was incredible."

Departing Old Trafford

How hard was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment 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 got to the point where I believed I needed to go my own route, drop down the leagues and play men's football. Now I'm slowly climbing the ladder."

Life in Swansea

This occurs during the early part of the afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Before his recent move to his new neighborhood, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called player transport, a minibus driven by team personnel, the transport team, which ferries players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's nice to socialize with the guys but I'm hoping to be the following person out of the minibus and driving. His teammate is known for his humor; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would blend in with followers on London's Central line after starting his journey at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim