When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander their owner – 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 joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
