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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, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

This statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing the national team too,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my family.”

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

Learning in non-league

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

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.

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

“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”

At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.

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

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” said the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.

He made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

Less than three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his big move

Scott experienced a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.

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

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

“It was almost another setback and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.

“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”