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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.

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

His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my family.”

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

Learning in the lower tiers

His football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.

Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely required.

“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”

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

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.

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

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Getting his big move

Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.

His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.

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

“It was yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”

But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong 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 just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott said recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”