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When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

This statement proved to be something of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”

But how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?

Developing in the lower tiers

Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.

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

“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was something I really required.

“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”

In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked last year.

Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his big move

The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.

“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season equally as impressively for his club, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.

“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”