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When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

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

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.

Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back 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 contract.”

Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill 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 England attacking midfielder Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated last year.

Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his major transfer

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

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.

“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke 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 selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”