🔗 Share this article

Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the thrilling closing stages of Swansea's remarkable turnaround triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The encounter culminated with Galbraith briefly donning a supporter's spectacles amid the pitch-side pile-on.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort from outside the box, and his teammate quickly slammed home the loose ball before charging toward the home end to celebrate, with fans congregating around the players.

Stunning Reversal

The result completed an unbelievable turnaround given Swansea had found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second half. During the celebrations, there was some unintended consequences. Galbraith explained, "There was a spectator sort of calling out and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] 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 footballers 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 upcoming fixture at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith ran close 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 remarkable manner, with the attacker's long-range effort from about way out going in via the bar and the opposition keeper. It seems unfair that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for having a go from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before moving to right flank after the team changed formation. That meant competing with Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the attacker was among the opposition who paid tribute to the way his former team played positively.

Guardiola's System

"Athletically they are exceptional but even the basics and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," Galbraith says. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they are adept at control and take the sting out of a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then abruptly they will just thread a ball between defenders without you even seeing. You have to be focused throughout of the game. It requires a strong mentality and concentration just to keep pace."

New Chapter

The club were keen on 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 two seasons at Orient and has quickly replicated that in south Wales. At the London club he linked up again with his former manager, who earlier gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in senior football on loan at Doncaster from United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford, before he permanently left his boyhood club.

Development Path

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into senior level. I think numerous professionals would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it feels like possession is exchanged without serious challenge. There are limited hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to adjust fast."

National Team Success

He has demonstrated that development for club and country, shining for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the World Cup next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the last several matches, including two matches games against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he controls possession and his knack for a game-changing assist.

Humble Beginnings

This represents an incredible journey for the kid from the local area in the Belfast suburb, just outside Belfast, who grew up watching his parent, the elder Galbraith, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Old Trafford Memory

The player's only game for the Red Devils came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a Europa League trip to the Kazakh capital, where they played on an plastic turf and the stadium roof was shut owing to conditions of -15C. "It was a extended travel and it was cold out there," 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 join the main group and earn some playing time at the end was incredible."

Departing Old Trafford

How hard was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged his mid-teens? "It was relatively straightforward, because I reached the point where I realized I wasn't going to make it at the top level. I'm very appreciative for the experience gained but it got to the point where I thought I required a fresh start, join a smaller club and play men's football. Now I'm steadily progressing again."

Life in Swansea

It is the early part of the afternoon at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has a commitment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Until recently to the local area, the young professional was a regular in Swansea's so-called player transport, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which transports players to and from practice and games.

"My companions include a teammate, another squad member, Malick Yalcouyé – Melker Widell used to be in it but has started driving. It's enjoyable to socialize with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the following person to drive independently and driving. The Portuguese player likes to pull a few pranks; he's frequently playing tricks."

Fan Interactions

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would mix with supporters on the Tube after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim