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When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”

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

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.

He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth back was something I really required.

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

At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

“People have witnessed that – his retention 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 monitoring Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

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

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, 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’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn 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 disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.

“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”

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

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.

And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.

“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”