When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
