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Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the nail-biting closing stages of his team's epic comeback win against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. That match wrapped up with Galbraith briefly donning a supporter's spectacles following the pitch-side pile-on.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort from outside the box, and Cameron Burgess promptly converted the deflection before charging toward the crowd to celebrate, with the crowd congregating around the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The result sealed an unbelievable comeback given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 during the final 45 minutes. During the celebrations, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and we were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed 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 joke with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

That win booked a next round match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with the London side in February. He had a prime vantage point when Orient took the lead in stunning style, with the attacker's volley from about 45 yards going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. Many argued that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've credited him for taking the effort on from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before moving to right wing-back after the team changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with Jack Grealish, with whom he swapped shirts, and the attacker was among the Manchester squad who praised the way Orient attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just perform consistently," he explains. "It appears that they complete every delivery and they understand how to control and neutralize a game. You can believe you're all right and then abruptly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be focused at all times of the game. It takes a strong mentality and focus just to stay in the game."

Swansea Move

The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and beat off competition to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He became a favorite as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly achieved similar status in south Wales. At his previous team he linked up again with the coach, who earlier gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in professional games on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a temporary move at lower division the Manchester club, before he departed his boyhood club.

Growth Journey

"I was likely a bit naive going into men's football. I think numerous professionals would say development squad matches is very different. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without much intensity. There's not many tackles or duels. Once you start playing professional matches you have to learn quickly."

International Recognition

He has shown that maturation for his team and nation, shining for Northern Ireland, who remain in contention for the World Cup next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has started the last several matches, including both legs games against Germany. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.

Humble Beginnings

It has been quite the ride for the youngster from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside the capital, who used to see his parent, Stuart, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Red Devils Debut

The player's only game for United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a continental tournament trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an plastic turf and the arena covering was shut owing to conditions of freezing cold. "It was a lengthy journey and it was freezing," he says, chuckling. "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 unbelievable."

Departing Old Trafford

How difficult was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged a teenager? "This turned out fairly simple, because I got to the stage where I realized I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it became apparent where I thought I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play first-team games. Now I'm steadily climbing the ladder."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the early part of the afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has somewhere to be at 5pm: a road rules assessment, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Until recently to his new neighborhood, the young professional was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called fun bus, a small coach driven by academy staff, the drivers, which shuttles players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's pleasant to socialize with the teammates but I'm planning to be the following person out of the minibus and on the road. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."

Public Engagement

When he represented his former club, Galbraith would mix with fans on London's Central line after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim