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Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best 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 playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

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

But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

His path in football has not been a conventional one.

He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly 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, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth back was something I definitely required.

“To gain some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”

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 league fixture at the opposition.

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

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.

Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.

“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be 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 regain fitness in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the table.

“To play for 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 keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”