Galbraith hopes for more midfield duty at Swansea

Ethan Galbraith hopes to play in midfield as often as possible for Swansea City after his latest impressive spell on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Galbraith emerged with credit despite Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Italy last Thursday.

Boss Michael O'Neill then described the 24-year-old as "the best player on the pitch" in his side's friendly draw with Wales on Tuesday.

Galbraith has been one of Swansea's star performers since joining from Leyton Orient last summer, playing 44 times – and scoring four goals – for the Championship club.

The former Manchester United youngster has shone despite often being used at right-back by Swansea.

Though he has remained influential regardless of his role, Galbraith's wish is to play more regularly in the centre of the pitch.

"I won't lie, right-back wouldn't be my favourite position," Galbraith said after the Wales friendly.

"I'll always do it for the team, but primarily I'm a midfielder. That's where I want to play.

"We've had a few injuries and I've been asked to fill in, but I want to be playing in the middle as much as I can."

Galbraith is set for a swift return to club duty as Swansea travel to Sheffield United on Friday (15:00 BST).

He says the target for the final stages of his first season at second-tier level is to play regularly and "do my best for Swansea".

O'Neill, who gave Galbraith his international debut when he was 17, says the move to Wales has helped his development.

"He made a really good choice in the club he went to," O'Neill said.

"I spoke to him in the summer and he had other options. I think relocating to Swansea was maybe not at the top of his list because he has been in London and Manchester for the majority of his career.

"I've known Ethan since he was 15, 16 years of age, when he was in our age-grade and development squads.

"It took him longer to come through maybe than what we'd hoped and part of that is obviously his development with his club.

"But I think over this season, the player we always knew [was there has come through]."

O'Neill says there is more to come from Galbraith, who has the ability to develop into a "top-class player".

"I think where he has improved is physically in the Championship," he added.

"He's able to compete, he covers the ground, his physical data is high, but it's his ability to retain the ball - his technical level is extremely high.

"For me, his best position is definitely in midfield in our team."