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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”

But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.

“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.

“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated at the time.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.

Less than three months after, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.

“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.

“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”