Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth 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 picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI 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 will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
