Swansea midfielder Ethan Galbraith declared his calf injury fully recovered as he joins Northern Ireland's squad for friendlies against Guinea and France.
Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith confirmed his calf issue is fully resolved after being called up to Northern Ireland's squad for upcoming friendlies. He last featured in a draw against Wales at the end of March, following Northern Ireland's World Cup playoff loss to Italy. In April, Swansea manager Vitor Matos had suggested resting Galbraith during June's international break, but the player reported having discussions with both his club boss and medical staff. After missing the rest of Swansea's Championship season, Galbraith received clearance from the club's medical team to rejoin Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland face Guinea in a friendly in Spain on Thursday at 17:00 BST before traveling to Lille to take on France on 8 June as part of the hosts' World Cup send-off. Galbraith expressed his happiness at returning to the squad after spending six or seven weeks working exclusively with a physiotherapist. He described the solo training period as frustrating but noted his recovery is now complete. The upcoming matches present an ideal opportunity for players to regain match sharpness after injury.
Despite impressive displays in his debut season at Swansea, where he has played both in midfield and at right-back, Galbraith has been linked with moves to the Premier League and Championship side Wrexham. However, he emphasized his commitment to his current club, calling the speculation flattering but choosing to concentrate solely on his role at Swansea. The 24-year-old midfielder said he is proud of his progress and aims to continue contributing to the team's efforts.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has agreed to a new contract extension running until 2032, turning down permanent offers from Blackburn Rovers. O'Neill balanced the Blackburn job with his international duties in the second half of the season, securing the club's Championship status. His decision to stay with Northern Ireland has been widely praised by players, including Galbraith, who called O'Neill's influence on his career as 'massive.' Galbraith highlighted O'Neill's role in allowing young players to express themselves in big games.
O'Neill has called up two uncapped teenagers, Everton's Braiden Graham and Arsenal's Ceadach O'Neill, for the upcoming fixtures against Guinea and France. Both players progressed through Linfield's academy in the Irish Premiership before moving to England.
Galbraith, who has been with Northern Ireland for several years, sees it as his role to support new players joining the squad. He encouraged Braiden Graham and Ceadach O'Neill to continue doing what brought them to this level, stressing that overcomplicating their approach could be counterproductive. Drawing from his own journey, Galbraith offered reassurance that everyone faces similar challenges early in their careers. He assured the young players that they could always reach out if needed, as he understands the pressures of transitioning to international football.