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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true throwback, a story rarely told in the modern era.

Next stop? The World Cup?

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

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”

So how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

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

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

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

Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was something I definitely needed.

“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

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

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.

“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 three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

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

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.

Less than three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his big move

The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

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

“There was 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 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 succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.

And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.

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

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”