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When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be something of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full England team.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott said previously.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?

Learning in non-league

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

He was part of over four 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 gave Scott an opportunity 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 opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really required.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

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

Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, stated last year.

Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, 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 just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.

“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”

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

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

And he has begun this season equally as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”