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Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott stated previously.

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

So how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. 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 heart was not in it.

Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was a thing I really required.

“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian 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,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.

He 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 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his skill 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 England playmaker Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.

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

Securing his big move

Scott endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.

“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”

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 Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said recently.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”