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When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

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

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full England squad.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true throwback, a story seldom told in the modern era.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.

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

But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

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

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his 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, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back 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, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

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

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.

Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.

“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.

“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first half.”

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”