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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he recalls the thrilling dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. That match ended with Galbraith picking up a supporter's spectacles amid the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith struck the post with a long-range effort from outside the box, and his teammate immediately converted the loose ball before charging toward the East Stand to mark the goal, with the crowd swarming the players.

Stunning Reversal

The result completed an unbelievable turnaround given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. During the delirium, there was some collateral damage. The midfielder recalled, "There was a spectator shouting out and we were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we spotted the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

That win secured a fourth-round game at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. The athletic midfielder had an excellent perspective when Orient took the lead in remarkable manner, with a teammate's volley from about long distance going in via the crossbar and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that far out," stated Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right defensive wing after Orient changed formation. That meant competing with Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the winger was among the Manchester squad who complimented the way the underdogs approached the match.

Opponent's Class

"Fitness-wise they are very good but even the basics and basic skills, they can just execute repeatedly," Galbraith says. "It feels like they never miss a pass and they are adept at control and take the sting out of a game. You can believe you're all right and then abruptly they will just thread a ball through a line without you even noticing. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It takes a resilient mindset and attention just to remain competitive."

Welsh Transition

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He became a favorite as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at his former club and has swiftly achieved similar status in his new home. At Orient he reunited with the coach, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from Old Trafford. Then came a loan at League Two the Manchester club, before he permanently left his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was probably a bit naive going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without much intensity. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to learn quickly."

International Recognition

His progress reflects that growth for both domestically and internationally, excelling for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has started the recent fixtures, including home and away games against the German national team. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he controls possession and his ability to spot a killer pass.

Humble Beginnings

This marks an incredible journey for the player from the neighborhood in Glengormley, just outside the capital, who used to see his parent, Stuart, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's only game for United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the host city, where they played on an artificial pitch and the venue ceiling was shut owing to the weather of freezing cold. "It was a lengthy journey and it was chilly," he recalls, smiling. "The days leading up, several youth players and I trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to join the main group and make an appearance at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

How hard was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "The decision proved fairly simple, because I got to the stage where I realized I wouldn't break through at the senior squad. I'm extremely thankful for the years at the club but it reached a stage where I thought I needed to go my own route, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."

New Environment

This occurs during mid-afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Before his recent move to his new neighborhood, the 24-year-old was a regular in Swansea's dubbed player transport, a small coach driven by club employees, the drivers, which ferries players to and from sessions and fixtures.

"It's myself the Portuguese player, the Brazilian, the midfielder – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has got his license. It's pleasant to socialize with the lads but I'm hoping to be the next one to drive independently and behind the wheel. His teammate likes to pull a few pranks; he's frequently playing tricks."

Public Engagement

When he represented his former club, Galbraith would travel alongside supporters on public transport after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim