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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the dramatic closing stages of his team's remarkable turnaround win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear after the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a speculative shot from outside the box, and his teammate quickly converted the deflection before charging toward the crowd to revel in the moment, with the crowd mobbing the players.

Stunning Reversal

This sealed an unbelievable recovery given the team had trailed 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. In the euphoria, there was some unintended consequences. The midfielder recalled, "There was a supporter sort of calling out and we were puzzled: '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 athletes but we're humans, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

The result earned a next round game at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close at the same stage of the FA Cup with the London side in February. He had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with Jamie Donley's volley from about 45 yards going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It feels criminal that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've awarded it to him for having a go from that range," stated Galbraith, who started in midfield before shifting to right wing-back after they changed tactics. That meant facing off against Jack Grealish, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the attacker was among the opposition who paid tribute to the way Orient played positively.

City's Quality

"Athletically they are exceptional but even the simple things and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," Galbraith says. "It seems as if they always find their target and they know how to manage and slow down a game. You can believe you're holding your own and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be alert at all times of the game. It requires a strong mentality and attention just to stay in the game."

Welsh Transition

Swansea were keen on Galbraith in January and beat off competition to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has swiftly achieved similar status in his new home. At his previous team he linked up again with the coach, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in professional games on loan at his loan club from United. Then came a loan at lower division Salford, before he permanently left his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into senior level. I think a lot of players would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without much intensity. You see few tackles or duels. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has shown that development for club and country, performing well for his national side, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has been selected in the past five games, including home and away encounters against a football powerhouse. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.

Early Days

It has been an incredible journey for the youngster from the local area in Glengormley, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who used to see his father, the elder Galbraith, also a central player, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Red Devils Debut

His single match for United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a Europa League trip to the host city, where they played on an plastic turf and the arena covering was closed owing to conditions of bitter cold. "This represented a long trip and it was freezing," he comments, smiling. "The days leading up, myself and quite a few of the young lads worked out jointly, so that aided our adjustment. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was incredible."

Departing Old Trafford

How hard was it to depart Manchester United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged a teenager? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I couldn't establish myself at first-team level. I'm extremely thankful for the experience gained but it got to the point where I felt I needed to go my own route, drop down the leagues and play first-team games. Now I'm gradually climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has a commitment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another progress toward getting on the road. Until recently to the local area, the young professional was a constant rider in Swansea's so-called player transport, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which transports players to and from training and matches.

"My companions include Gonçalo Franco, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to socialize with the lads but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual out of the minibus and driving. The Portuguese player likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."

Fan Interactions

While playing for Orient, Galbraith would mix with supporters on London's Central line after beginning his trip at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim