Ethan Galbraith suffers injury scare as Stoke City players return to club
An eventful international break for new Stoke City favourite Ethan Galbraith ended 25 minutes early last night. The midfielder has taken his excellent club form to Northern Ireland and shone on the big stage but he was holding the back of his leg as he was substituted in the 65th minute of a 0-0 draw with Georgia in Belfast.
Galbraith was man of the match in a draw with Hungary last week but was then given permission to miss a game against Ukraine to travel home and be with his partner, who gave birth to a baby boy.
He returned to the squad ready to be involved for the Georgia fixture and BelfastLive said he "fizzed with intent and imagination from the first minute. The best player on the pitch until he limped off injured". Isaac Price missed a penalty but Northern Ireland stay top of their group in the Nations League.
Stoke fans are hoping the change was just a precaution - and he was back on the pitch applauding fans around Windsor Park at the end - as the Potters prepare for a return to Championship action away at Bolon Wanderers this weekend.
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Boss Michael O'Neill was asked about his substitutions at full time and told the BBC: "You're looking for freshness. When you get to Game Four you wish you could make seven or eight subs because some of the lads are running on empty. That's natural, they've put so much into these four games and performances right through the squad have been fantastic."
Michael O'Connor, now a pundit following Northern Ireland, had previously been singing Galbraith's praises.
He told the Belfast Telegraph: “I played against Ethan when he was with Manchester United’s Under-21s while I was with Lincoln City in 2019. He was technically unreal and the best thing that happened to him was going out on loan and then joining Leyton Orient in 2023.
“He has just kicked on and got a really good move to Stoke in the summer. I do really like him and what he brings to the team.”
He added: “You see young boys happy to play in the youth ranks of a Premier League side but Ethan went out and got game time elsewhere Players need to get out and play whether it is League One, Two or lower.
“His form was consistent at Swansea and his game has really developed as he has grown physically. He has come on leaps and bounds. He’s now playing alongside Northern Ireland’s most expensive player in Shea (Charles) and he also just keeps getting better."
Galbraith's Stoke teammate Justin Devenny played the full game on the left side. The 22-year-old has started three of the four internationals and came off the bench in the other.
Stoke captain Viktor Johansson helped Sweden to a 1-0 win away in Romania. Sweden have picked up 10 points during the break, which has also included a home win over Romania, a win over Poland and draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Luke Graham is in the Scotland squad for tonight's home match against Georgia while Tommy Simkin is with England under-21s in Ireland to draw the international programme to a close.
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