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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” the player said previously.

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Learning in non-league

His football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”

Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.

Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.

Within 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Getting his big move

The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

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

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

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

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”