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When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

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

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player said previously.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

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

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

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth back was something I really required.

“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.

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

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

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

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

Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player 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 think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.

“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”