ON Tuesday, sandwiched in a crowded midfield that featured internationals Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden, was teen starlet Alex Scott.
The Bristol City wonderkid could have been forgiven for feeling overawed by the company he faced in opponents Man City in their FA Cup 5th round tie.
But, the teenager, particularly in the first half, was spectacular.
Like he has done all season, Scott kept the ball beautifully, carried it with style and his decision making in a congested area of the pitch belied his years.
At just 19, the Guernsey-born youngster seemingly has the world at his feet.
Even the difficult to please Pep Guardiola was impressed – calling the boy wonder “an unbelievable player.”
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It’s no wonder Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, Tottenham, and West Ham are keeping tabs on the £25million rated talent.
Guernsey boy
Like Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, Scott grew up in the Channel Islands.
In his formative years, he had to undergo heartbreak to reach the top.
At 12, he was released by the Saints after spending four years with the club.
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He told the Secret Scout: “Southampton wanted me on trial after a summer camp when I was eight-years-old. It was a bit mad being so young.
“From there I was at Southampton for four-and-a-half years. We were flying over every weekend – we had to do it.
“It was me and either my dad or my mum who’d have to fly over every weekend. The club paid for the hotel that we stayed in every weekend and my parents paid for the flight.”
He continued: “I was 12 when I got released from Southampton. It’s quite draining. You want to get back in and go to another academy and mentally you think that I’m not good enough for this.
“It was tough on my parents as well, having to pay for flights each week for four years. We sacrificed so much as a family to make it work which made it really hard to take when I wasn’t offered a contract.”
A year’s stint at Bournemouth wasn’t enough to convince Scott that his future belonged on the south coast.
A bold move
Instead, he signed for Isthmian League side Guernsey when he turned 16.
Scott soon made his debut for the Green Lions against Phoenix Sports – making him the youngster player to play for Guernsey.
His time there would be short-lived. It took just a handful of games to convince Championship side Bristol City that Scott belonged in their academy.
He was signed on a pre-contract agreement in December, 2019 and moved the following month to the Robins.
By 2021, the same year he signed his first professional contract, he was a starter in the first team.
Scott has since gone on to play 75 times for the club, while becoming an England youth international.
He was represented the Three Lions at U18, U19 and U20 level.
Most notably, he came off the bench in the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship semi-final against Italy to score an equaliser with his first touch of the game.
The ‘Guernsey Grealish’
At Ashton Gate, where Scott has earned the nickname the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, it was fitting he got to play against his idol, Jack, this week.
Speaking to ITV after the match, he said: “For me, my favourite player is Grealish. For him to come on and to play against him is a bit of a dream come true for me.
“Obviously that’s the level I want to be at. Obviously watching De Bruyne, Foden and Grealish growing up, to be on the same pitch as them in real life was a special feeling and that’s where I want to be in the future.
“I’m 19 now and still have years ahead but playing against players like that and seeing that life in the flesh shows you the level you need to be at to play at the top.”
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Grealish, himself, returned the favour with a compliment of his own. A “top, top talent,” the £100m City player called Scott.
Next season, maybe the rest of the Premier League will see Scott’s skills on a more regular basis.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
