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Back when the young midfielder made his local team 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 prediction proved to be something of an understatement.

Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”

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

Learning in non-league

His football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island 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 decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.

Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

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

“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league match at the opposition.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention 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 – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”

Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus the Hatters.

Scott made 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.

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

“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.

And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing 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 career,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”