Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I really needed.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen 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
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’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 think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
