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Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he remembers the nail-biting dying seconds of his team's stunning fightback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The encounter culminated with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear following the post-goal scrum.

With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith cracked the upright with a long-range shot from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess promptly slammed home the deflection before racing off toward the home end to mark the goal, with fans mobbing the players.

Remarkable Recovery

The victory capped an extraordinary recovery given the team had been behind 2-0 deep into the second half. During the celebrations, there was some collateral damage. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were puzzled: '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 players but we're people, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Pep Guardiola Test

The result secured a next round game at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a team Galbraith pushed hard at the same stage of the FA Cup with his former club in February. Galbraith had an excellent perspective when his former team took the lead in spectacular fashion, with Jamie Donley's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the bar and the Stefan Ortega. Many argued that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have hoped they would've credited him for taking the effort on from that range," stated Galbraith, who started in midfield before switching to right wing-back after the team changed shape. That meant getting to grips with the England international, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the winger was among the Manchester squad who complimented the way his former team attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Physically they are outstanding but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just do it over and over again," Galbraith says. "It appears that they never miss a pass and they are adept at control and neutralize a game. You can think you're holding your own and then abruptly they will just thread a ball through a line without you even noticing. You have to be switched on at all times of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and concentration just to remain competitive."

Welsh Transition

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to sign him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He established himself as a popular figure across a couple of years at his former club and has quickly done the same in his new home. At the London club he linked up again with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in senior football on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a spell at lower division Salford, before he moved on from Manchester United.

Growth Journey

"I was probably a slightly green going into men's football. I think many athletes would say youth team games is entirely separate. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without real physicality. There are limited hard challenges. Once you start playing men's games you have to adapt rapidly."

International Recognition

He has demonstrated that development for both domestically and internationally, excelling for his national side, who could still reach the World Cup next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has featured in the recent fixtures, including both legs fixtures against a football powerhouse. His former international manager, Galbraith's ex- international manager, paid him the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "midfield general" given how he manipulates the ball and his eye for a game-changing assist.

Humble Beginnings

This marks quite the ride for the player from the Queens Park estate in the Belfast suburb, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his parent, Stuart, also a engine room operator, play for a local club.

Red Devils Debut

The player's only game for Manchester United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a Europa League trip to the host city, where they competed on an synthetic surface and the arena covering was closed owing to conditions of -15C. "It was a long trip and it was freezing," he says, smiling. "The preceding week, several youth players and I trained together, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and make an appearance at the end was unbelievable."

Leaving United

What was the challenge was it to depart Manchester United, the club he joined from Linfield aged 16? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I arrived at the moment where I realized I wasn't going to make it at first-team level. I'm very appreciative for the experience gained but it reached a stage where I felt I needed to go my own route, drop down the leagues and play men's football. Now I'm gradually progressing again."

New Environment

It is the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at the early evening: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to the local area, the mid-twenties player was a regular in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, Pete and Howard, which ferries players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, another squad member, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's nice to socialize with the teammates but I'm hoping to be the next one to drive independently and behind the wheel. His teammate is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

When he represented Leyton Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside fans on London's Central line after beginning his trip at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim