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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This prediction proved to be something of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my family.”

But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Developing in non-league

Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I really needed.

“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.

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

“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”