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

This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” 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 loved ones.”

So how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Developing in non-league

His path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly 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 he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.

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

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I definitely required.

“To gain some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 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 league match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.

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

Returning to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.

He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“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, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.

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

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.

“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.

“That felt like almost another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.

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

And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”