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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the thrilling dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The encounter culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear following the pitch-side pile-on.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a powerful effort from outside the box, and his teammate promptly slammed home the rebound before charging toward the East Stand to celebrate, with fans congregating around the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result completed an unbelievable comeback given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 deep into the latter period. In the euphoria, there was some unintended consequences. 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 saw the glasses. It was a funny incident putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The victory secured a fourth-round match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith ran close at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with Leyton Orient in February. Galbraith had arguably the best view when his former team took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's volley from about 45 yards going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. It feels criminal that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've given it to him for taking the effort on from that far out," stated Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right defensive wing after they changed formation. That meant competing with Jack Grealish, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the opposition who praised the way the underdogs approached the match.

Guardiola's System

"Athletically they are outstanding but even the basics and simple things, they can just do it over and over again," he explains. "It feels like they always find their target and they understand how to dictate and neutralize a game. You can feel you're all right and then suddenly they will just thread a ball between defenders without you even spotting it. You have to be alert throughout of the game. It takes a tough attitude and attention just to keep pace."

New Chapter

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to sign him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He established himself as a fans' favourite across multiple campaigns at Leyton Orient and has quickly done the same in his new home. At the London club he linked up again with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in professional games on loan at his loan club from Old Trafford. Then came a loan at lower division Salford City, before he moved on from Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was likely a slightly green going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without real physicality. There are limited hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."

International Recognition

He has shown that maturation for his team and nation, excelling for his national side, who could still reach the global tournament next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has been selected in the recent fixtures, including two matches games against the German national team. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, offered the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he handles the football and his knack for a killer pass.

Starting Out

It has been a remarkable path for the kid from the local area in his hometown, just outside the capital, who used to see his parent, the elder Galbraith, also a midfielder, play for his father's team.

Old Trafford Memory

The player's sole appearance for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an plastic turf and the stadium roof was closed owing to temperatures of freezing cold. "It was a extended travel and it was cold out there," he says, grinning. "The preceding week, myself and quite a few of the young lads worked out jointly, so that assisted our preparation. Just to join the main group and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Leaving United

How difficult was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "This turned out fairly simple, because I got to the stage where I knew I wouldn't break through at the senior squad. I'm hugely grateful for the years at the club but it reached a stage where I thought I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

Welsh Adaptation

This occurs during mid-afternoon at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has an appointment at 5pm: a road rules assessment, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to his new neighborhood, the young professional was a regular in Swansea's dubbed fun bus, a team vehicle driven by club employees, the transport team, which ferries players to and from training and matches.

"My companions include the Portuguese player, Ronald, the midfielder – a former passenger used to be in it but has got his license. It's enjoyable to interact with the guys but I'm hoping to be the following person out of the minibus and on the road. The Portuguese player is known for his humor; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

During his time at Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside followers on the Tube after beginning his trip at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim