While his club future is unclear as interest in his signature remains significant, Bristol City’s Alex Scott and England got their Under-20 World Cup campaign underway against Tunisia in Argentina.
Ian Foster’s side secured a 1-0 win over their North African opponents following Dane Scarlett’s first-half header. But England didn’t have to be anywhere near their best, with Tunisia struggling to carry any genuine threat and goalkeeper Matthew Cox only had one genuine save to make midway through the second period.
The lack of real challenge posed made it far from a classic to watch, with England dominating possession without the cutting edge to put Tunisia to the sword. However, it is tournament football after all and starting with three points is all that really matters.
City’s star boy played the full 90 minutes in a two-man central midfield alongside Darko Gyabi of Leeds United in front of a back three, with the formation seeing him operate in a far deeper role than he occupied towards the latter end of the Robins’ Championship campaign.
While it wasn’t a performance that will have kicked heads of recruitment around the Premier League into action, Scott once again dealt with everything he was presented with complete and utter ease.
With Uruguay to come next on Thursday, we maintained a close eye on how the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ faired at the La Plata Stadium.
England’s quarterback
We’ve already touched on the fact that Scott was used in a deeper role by Foster, but by no means did that mean he was any less influential in proceedings.
Now that really shouldn’t be surprising anymore, after all the 19-year-old has managed to be the Robins’ best player from right-back to a second striker, but against Tunisia it was more like watching Kal Naismith or Matty James ply their trade from the base of midfield.
With both wing-backs playing in advanced positions, it was often left to Scott to take the ball from the defence and progress possession, with his excellent range of passing on display as he left the Tunisian midfield in a spin with balls floated above and beyond them with little they good to do to stop it.
Although a simple pass, it was Scott who played the ball out to Harvey Vale for the Chelsea man to pick out Dane Scarlett for the opener. The way in which he got the Three Lions ticking wasn’t too dissimilar to how James is the beating heart of Nigel Pearson’s side.
Some have suggested that the 19-year-old is better utilised in a deeper role where he gets more time on the ball, where he is always at his elegant best, and it certainly didn’t look unnatural for him on Monday night.
After the final whistle Foster did admit Tunisia lined up differently to what he and the team had expected, so it will be interesting whether Scott has a bit more of a license to attack against Uruguay on Thursday.
The boy can defend
Such has been the ease with which Scott has taken to life in the men’s game, it can be easily forgotten he’s often facing players over a decade his senior, with his teenage frame not looking particularly imposing when compared to the likes of Jake Livermore and Tom Rogic in the Championship.
However, put him up against a team full of players roughly the same age and you’ll quickly understand why Pearson has been so comfortable playing him in a more defensive midfield role. Scott got well and truly stuck in with some strong tackles and planted himself well in the passing lanes to break up Tunisia's rare attacks.
What was interesting to note, of the starting XI named by Foster, Scott had played the most first-team matches this term (49 appearances), with the next closest being Scarlett (40 appearances, only 25 of which were a starter) who spent the campaign on loan with Portsmouth in League One.
Although he was one of only two starters to be permanently contracted to a club outside of the Premier League, along with Peterborough United's Ronnie Edwards, the level of experience he has already earnt is that of a player well beyond his years.
Perhaps that explains why he looked so comfortable, even on World Cup debut while still not being in his favoured position. After all, the task of facing Kevin De Bruyne is much more daunting than anything else he’ll be faced with this summer.
The FIFA director is certainly a fan
So much has been made ahead of this tournament about the many players that haven’t been able to make the trip to Argentina because of the fixtures clashing with their club commitments, with three vacant spaces on Monday’s bench as the Premier League season reaches conclusions with EFL play-offs also taking place.
One of those missing is Carney Chukwuemeka, who starred alongside Scott at last year’s Under-19 European Championships and it’s safe to say in his absence saw many people’s focus instead set on the EFL Championship Young Player of the Year, including that of the FIFA+ director.
At every break in play the camera was fixed to England's No4, with the commentator singing the praises of the City man throughout the 90 minutes. However when referencing that the Scott played his football in this particular parish, he quickly followed with, “not for much longer we hear.” Even the most optimistic of City fans must have realised the secret is well and truly out.
Making his skipper proud
Andi Weimann may have only taken on the role of captain of City this campaign, but his role as Scott’s mentor has been one he’s taken seriously for over two seasons, with the pair often sharing lifts and plenty of banter on and off the field.
Well, the skipper’s (and quite possibly his manager’s) level of irritation with officials has certainly rubbed off on the midfielder. Every time a foul was given against the Young Lions that No4 shirt wasn’t far away pleading with the referee around his, and his teammates' innocence, no matter how lost the cause.
The officials were keen to let contact go, with a few questionable challenges going unpunished in the opening stages and it didn’t take a body language expert to see Scott wasn’t convinced by the officiating.
What also was intriguing to see was the City man’s position from corners. Rather than taking on the responsibility of crossing the ball, Scott was deployed right underneath Dries Arfaoui in the Tunisian net, before a crowd of teammates charged into the area leaving him alone as a decoy.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
