After being released by Man United in 2023, Ethan Galbraith joined Leyton Orient in pursuit of regular first-team football, and now he could help them write an EFL fairytale.
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Ethan Galbraith celebrates with Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley after advancing to the League One play-off final.
Ethan Galbraith (right) and Leyton Orient are targeting promotion at Wembley.
(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images.)
Few would have anticipated as recently as November that Leyton Orient's final game of the campaign would be at Wembley in the League One play-off final.
But having successfully dispatched of Stockport County over an action-packed two-legged play-off semi-final earlier this month, the O's are dreaming of taking that final step when they face Charlton Athletic at the national stadium this lunchtime.
Sitting 21st in the League One table at the end of November after losing nine of their first 16 matches, winning just four, much of the talk was about how former Manchester United academy graduate Richie Wellens could be taking them back to League Two just over a year after escaping the fourth tier's clutches.
However, between the start of December and the end of the season, Orient amassed a whopping 63 points, winning 20 of their last 30 league games, to secure the final play-off place ahead of Reading on the final day of the season. Only runaway leaders Birmingham City (78) won more points in that period.
As a result, Orient, just six years after winning the National League title to return to the Football League after a two-year absence, are on the cusp of being promoted to the Championship and completing one of the greatest EFL fairytale stories that has been written in recent years.
While former United youngster Wellens, who has been in charge of the Londoners since March 2022, has spearheaded Orient's promotion push from the sidelines, fellow former Reds youngster Ethan Galbraith has been a significant cog in the O's' midfield.
The 24-year-old Northern Irishman joined Orient in June 2023 after being released by United, following six years at Old Trafford. He was brought to M16 in 2017 after impressing in his homeland for Linfield and passed a successful trial, convincing United to take him on.
He signed his first professional contract at the club in May 2018 and made his first and only appearance for United in November the following year, appearing as a late substitute in a 2-1 defeat to FC Astana in the Europa League.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was United's manager at the time and he used the trip to Kazakhstan to hand out a handful of debuts to younger members of the squad, including Ethan Laird, Di'Shon Bernard, Largie Ramazani, Dylan Levitt and Galbraith.
Ethan Galbraith replaces Angel Gomes against FC Asanta in 2019.
Ethan Galbraith (right) made his Manchester United debut in the Europa League.
Galbraith stepped onto the field with 88 minutes on the clock, replacing Angel Gomes, and that turned out to be his only appearance for United in a competitive fixture, despite not leaving the club for almost another four years.
He did, however, feature in friendlies and was told how he could improve by Solskjaer after United lost 1-0 to Aston Villa at Villa Park in September 2020.
"Young Ethan Galbraith has been with us in the summer, in the Europa League, he's been training with us and then he gets minutes today and you could see he's got less time [on the ball]," said the Norwegian.
"I spoke to him after the game and he knows a couple of times he gets caught on the ball but that's the learning he needs. That's going to make him, next time he's on the pitch, be ready for it."
He went out on loan a couple of times during his United career, spending time at nearby Salford City and Doncaster Rovers, before eventually being released and getting the opportunity to put down some roots at Brisbane Road.
Galbraith joined Orient on the back of their promotion from League Two almost two years ago, describing his decision to join the Londoners as a "great fit".
Ethan Galbraith in action for Leyton Orient against Bolton Wanderers.
Ethan Galbraith's stock is on the rise.(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images.)
"From playing against Leyton Orient last season, I got a good feel for the side here, and the style of football," said Galbraith. "Richie was a big factor, I know how he likes to play, and how he wants to get the best out of his players, so it was a great fit."
Signing a two-year contract, which is up at the end of this season, there is a possibility that Galbraith, who was named in the Northern Ireland squad in midweek, could make his farewell appearance for Orient at Wembley this afternoon. He has been linked with Championship clubs and was reportedly the subject of a bid from Swansea City in January.
With the second-tier of English football within touching distance for the first time in 43 years for Orient, Galbraith is the man to thank for putting them in this position, scoring the decisive penalty in their 4-1 shootout victory over Stockport at Edgeley Park last week.
The tie had finished 3-3 on aggregate after 210 gripping minutes and Orient kept their cool from the spot to book their place at Wembley and overcome a Stockport side that were pushing for a second successive promotion.
Galbraith, who only made it into United's matchday squad once more after making his debut against Astana in November 2019, has been a key player for Orient this season, making 50 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with six goals and eight assists.
He played every minute of their semi-final triumph over Stockport and is expected to be one of the first names on the teamsheet at Wembley, as he and his Orient teammates look to propel the club to within one league of the Premier League - a scenario that was nothing more than a pipe dream a few months ago.
Ethan Galbraith dispatches Leyton Orient's winning penalty against Stockport County.
Ethan Galbraith dispatched Leyton Orient's winning penalty against Stockport County.
"Ethan Galbraith was outstanding," Wellens quipped after Orient beat Mansfield Town 3-0 in February. "He is a Premier League player in the making and younger players who watch him can see how strong he is in his running.
"He's unbelievable and he's brilliant. We've got loads of young players that should be watching him and going 'he's intense there, he's always running, he's always at it'."
If Orient can get the better of Charlton and secure their place in the Championship for next season, Galbraith will be one step nearer to living up to his manager's billing.