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When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.

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

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

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

But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

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

He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really needed.

“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things 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 was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian 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 side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.

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

Returning to the pro ranks

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.

He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.

Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His following season 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 close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.

“It was yet another setback and the year 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 managed to get himself fit in time.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”