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Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.

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

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” the player stated previously.

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

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

Developing in non-league

His path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I really needed.

“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important 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 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

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

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.

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

Securing his major transfer

Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery 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 almost another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong understanding 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 impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”