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When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

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

But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.

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

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”

Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.

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

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

Scott experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.

“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.

“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”