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Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott stated previously.

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

But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Developing in the lower tiers

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

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, 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 overwhelming,” he explained.

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

“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.

“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference 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 award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.

Within 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly 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,” said Scott.

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

But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.

“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”