The Cherries midfielder spoke openly after his first England call up last November on how he was not sure if he would make it as a professional footballer just seven years ago, as he was playing non-league football at home on Guernsey.
But, after making a big decision to leave the academy system and to instead play men’s football as a teenager, Scott has fought hard to reach the summit of the game.
He was made to wait for his chance after he did not feature in either of the games in his first international break with the senior team against Serbia and Albania, and then he was left out of the squad in March.
Scott was part of his second England squad in the summer when he travelled to Florida with the team as part of the World Cup preparation squad, but he did not feature in any of the pre-tournament friendlies.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Alex Scott during a training session at St George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
A superb start to the season with Bournemouth for Scott has seen him deservedly recalled to Tuchel’s squad, with the German praising him as one of the top performing midfielders in the Premier League so far this term.
Handed the number four shirt in the absence of Declan Rice, who dropped out of the squad for this international break, Scott has again had to wait for his moment, after he was left on the bench for the visit of Spain.
But, again named among the substitutes for the Three Lions’ second Nations League game of this break in Prague, Scott’s name was called with 20 minutes left to play.
He came on for Elliot Anderson, someone Scott knows well from their European Championship-winning midfield partnership for England’s U21s, and Scott looked bright.
England’s Alex Scott (right) and Czechia’s Lukas Cerv battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, league phase, group A3 match at the Fortuna Arena, Prague. (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
A standout moment saw Scott test his luck from range, curling just wide of the top left corner after a trademark dribble, as he picked up the ball just inside the England half, played a one-two and surged into the Czechia half, with the space opening up in front of him.
That, for Cherries fans, is a familiar sight – a hugely progressive midfielder, Scott is so good at carrying the ball and starting attacks, as he does week in, week out for Bournemouth.
It was a good cameo for the 23-year-old, and gives him plenty to build on.
And, with games in Croatia and back at Wembley against Czechia to come in this international break, there is plenty of time for him to add to his first England cap before returning to Dorset for what will be a busy October for Marco Rose’s men.
England’s Alex Scott (right) and Czechia’s Lukas Cerv battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, league phase, group A3 match at the Fortuna Arena, Prague. (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
But hopefully Scott will have time to reflect on the journey to reach this point, as it is one that has seen him put in plenty of work to rise from non-league to the Premier League and now international football.
Committing to playing the game even at an academy level is a big one for people from the Channel Islands, and it was one that saw Scott and his now-Lionesses stepsister Maya Le Tissier fly over each week with his parents to play.
He spoke of the “islanders’ mentality” when he spoke to the media for the first time as an England senior player at the back end of last year – that those from the Channel Islands snatch their opportunities when they come, as they are not always easy to come by at home.
Scott discussed the feelings of being released by Southampton after four years of commuting by plane and deciding to play for Guernsey in the Isthmian League at the age of 16.
England’s Alex Scott during a training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Enfield. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
There, Scott was the youngest to ever play for the club, and while there, he questioned if he would make it professionally.
But after impressing in 15 appearances for the Green Lions, Bristol City came knocking, and there he went.
A first professional contract came in 2021 and he became a mainstay of the team until his transfer to the Cherries in August 2023.
While Scott had now reached the Premier League with Bournemouth, his first two campaigns at Dean Court were rocked by injury.
That included a bad knee injury when he arrived, and a meniscus tear last season that sidelined him for four months.
England’s Alex Scott during a training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Enfield. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Last season, though, fresh off a European Championships win with England U21s, Scott grabbed his opportunity in the Bournemouth side with both hands.
He played in all bar one of the side’s games in their Europa League qualifying season, only missing one through illness on the final day at Nottingham Forest.
He had gone slightly under the radar for most when it came to England call ups – but crucially, Thomas Tuchel and his team were watching closely.
Tuchel praised Scott for his performances both for Bournemouth and for the U21s in the summer when he got the nod for the senior squad back in November, and he praised Scott’s mentality when called up in the summer for the preparation squad.
Scott will now forever be an England international, and he’ll be hopeful that last night’s debut will be the first of many caps to come.