Galbraith 'all good' with injury after Matos concern
Galbraith 'all good' with injury after Matos concern
Andy Gray - BBC Sport NI JournalistTue, June 2, 2026 at 11:02 AM UTC
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Ethan Galbraith missed the end of the season for Swansea with a calf issue
Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith said his calf injury is "all good" after being included in Northern Ireland's squad for friendlies with Guinea and France.
Galbraith had not played since the friendly draw with Wales at the end of March, which came after Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off defeat by Italy.
In April, Swansea boss Victor Matos said he would prefer the 24-year-old was rested for June's international window, but Galbraith said he had conversations with his club manager and the medical team.
Having missed the remainder of Swansea's Championship campaign, Galbraith said he had been "ticked off" by the club's medical team to link up with Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland face Guinea in Spain on Thursday before facing France in Les Bleus' World Cup send-off in Lille on 8 June.
"I'm happy to able to come to camp", Galbraith said.
"I spent six or seven weeks just with a physio, so that was quite long just training by myself but it is all good now.
"When you spend time off the pitch it's obviously frustrating. So having these games is absolutely brilliant for everyone, but coming off the back of an injury, it'll be good to get back out there."
After an impressive first season at Swansea, where he has been deployed at right back as well as in midfield, Galbaith has been linked with a move to the Premier League, as well as Championship rivals Wrexham, but he says his focus is on his current club.
"It's nice when you see people are saying that you are doing good things, but at the moment I'm a Swansea player and will just try and focus on Swansea."
Matos hopes Galbraith will be given summer off
Price 'buzzing' after O'Neill opts to stay with NI
Northern Ireland have been boosted by the news that manager Michael O'Neill has signed a new contract until 2032 after interest from Blackburn Rovers.
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O'Neill spent the second half of the season combining the Blackburn job with his international role as he kept the Ewood Park side in the Championship.
There was interest from Blackburn for O'Neill to take the job permanently, but he has committed his future to Northern Ireland.
Echoing what midfielder Isaac Price said, Galbraith said he was "buzzing" that O'Neill will continue as manager and he has been "massive for me in my career".
"He's been massive for a lot of the lads in such a young group.
"He lets us play in big game and lets us play with freedom. He's been brilliant for me".
O'Neill has included two uncapped teenagers, Everton's Braiden Graham and Arsenal's Ceadach O'Neill, in his squad for the Guinea and France games.
Like Galbraith, both players came through at Linfield in the Irish Premiership before moving across the water to England.
Galbraith says he is there "to make them feel welcome" in the squad and he will advise them to keep doing what they have been doing.
"Just take it in your stride. Don't try and do too much different from what you have been doing, because that is what has got them here.
"I've been around for a while and it's always nice to welcome them in.
"If they need anything, just let them know that they can ask. We've all been in that situation once upon a time."
Source: “AOL Sports”
