Scott targets U19 European success

And on the day he was announced as the award winner, the 18-year-old Guernsey professional appeared in front of the media to talk about his dream of playing for England, why he ignores transfer speculation and how he will ‘look after’ his good mate Ben Acey when he follows in Scott’s footsteps by joining Bristol City from Guernsey FC.

‘Very happy, very grateful as well to the fans for voting for me,’ Scott said of the award recognition.

‘Like I said at the start of the season, I would have been happy with 10-15 appearances, so to get 36 appearances I’m very happy and grateful to all the staff and my teammates as well.’

Bristol City are 17th in the Championship with one game remaining – away to Huddersfield Town next weekend – but with the Uefa European Under-19 Championship starting in Slovakia on 18 June and the Sarnian expected to be a member of the England squad, Scott admits that he will not get much of a summer holiday.

‘I think I get a week maybe just to relax but then it will be about building my fitness up and obviously I’ll be keeping my fitness as well as I can to be ready for the Euros, so I probably won’t be getting much of a break this summer, but it doesn’t really bother me because, hopefully if I get a call-up for England, I will be playing for my country so that’s going to be a proud moment for me if I do get picked.’

The former St Martin’s junior revealed that his international teammates, most of whom have come through the England age-groups while based at Premier League academies, unlike Scott, have really welcomed him into the fold.

‘It’s a very good dressing room, I’m happy to be there and I get along with all the lads, they’ve been really good.

‘I’m just excited for the tournament now and hopefully we can win it.

‘There’s a bit of respect there because everyone has been down a different pathway – they have been through the whole academy, now they are trying to break into the first team, there whereas I’ve had an up and down sort of road and now I’m playing games in the Championship.

‘So, yeah, I think there’s definitely respect between all the players there, which is good.’

After briefly going through his footballing background and how he believes being released from clubs when he was younger has put him in good stead, Scott was quizzed on his thoughts about being linked with big-money moves to Premier League clubs, something which he played down.

‘I just try to ignore it really [the speculation]. Obviously, the noise is there, I know it’s there, but I just try and get on with my football.

‘We’ve still got two games left to play, so I just want to finish the season strong really and put myself in the best position ready for the Euros in the summer if I get picked.

‘So yeah, I try to ignore it. I don’t read anything on social media and I think that’s the best way to keep it.’

The teenager added that, with three years left on his contract at the Robins, he believes he is in a good place to continue with his development.

‘The opportunities I’m getting with the gaffer [Nigel Pearson] here and what he’s done for me this season, I’m very grateful to him.

‘Moving to a Premier League team or a bigger team now, you are only going to be maybe playing U23s or sat on the bench there, so I think playing week-in, week out here at the moment is definitely benefitting me.

‘In the future, I can maybe push on, play Premier League, hopefully it is with Bristol City. But playing week in, week out at the moment is definitely the best thing for me.’

As for his ultimate ambition in the game?

‘I think at the moment, the way it’s going, my dream would definitely be to play for England ... it is a big dream for me,’ said Scott, who added that having idolised Neymar and Lionel Messi as a boy, he now looks up to the likes of England players Mason Mount and Phil Foden.

Towards the end of the press conference, a Bristol journalist asked Scott for a bit of insider information on GFC’s Acey, who is set to join the Robins this summer after a successful trial.

‘Very similar to me, I’d say,’ was Scott’s response.

‘Growing up we’d always play in midfield together. I think he is probably a bit more of a defensive-minded, box-to-box [midfielder] I’d say whereas I’m more attacking – that’s how we used to play when I was younger – he’d almost do the dirty work and I’d be free to go and attack.

‘But yeah, a very talented player and he’s had a great season for Guernsey scoring a few goals so I’m excited for him to be coming to Bristol and I’ll look after him here.’