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

This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott said previously.

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

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

Developing in the lower tiers

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

He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

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

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was something I really required.

“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott became 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 sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”

Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.

He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – 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 ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.

His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.

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

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

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

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.

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

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”