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When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said previously.

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

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

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

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

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

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

“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.

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

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

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

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.

Getting his major transfer

Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

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

“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.

“That felt like yet another setback and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”