When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely needed.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
