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Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”

So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

His path in football has not been a typical one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Before he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth again was something I really required.

“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things 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 second-half substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 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 complete shock.

“Midweek I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.

Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.

Within three months after, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott endured a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.

“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.

“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.

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

And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”