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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This statement turned out to be something of an understatement.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”

So how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?

Developing in non-league

His path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he opted to remain on the island and play for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.

“To gain some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”

At the age of 16, the teenager made history as 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 his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

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

Securing his major transfer

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

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

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

“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”

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

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the table.

“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player said recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”