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 manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for the national team too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option 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 stay on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match 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 his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester 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 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 think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership 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 this season equally as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
