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Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

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

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.

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

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and representing England too,” the player said previously.

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my family.”

But how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

His path in football has not been a typical one.

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

Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I really required.

“Building some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries 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 impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Within three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

Scott endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.

“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.

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

But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.

He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”