Premier League winner rates Bristol City teenager above Chelsea and Leicester stars

Andy King believes Bristol City youngster Alex Scott is better than what Premier League duo Ben Chilwell and Harvey Barnes were at his age.

Scott has been City’s standout performer so far this campaign and has featured in 23 of their 24 matches so far. The teenager is yet to score this term but has recorded three assists.

King spent 14 years at Leicester City and won the won the title under Claudio Ranieri in 2015 before he joined the Robins in 2021.

The veteran has been a bit-part player so far this season but has always delivered when called upon by Nigel Pearson. He has played alongside Scott in midfield on several occasions and was full of praise for the ex-Guernsey man.

“I think I went on record last year and said that he was probably the best 17-year-old I have played with,” he said.

“When you look at some of the players who I’ve had the privilege of playing with, you look at Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, people like that who have gone on to play for England, I saw them at 17/18 and I think certainly at 17 Scotty was ahead of those.”

Scott has represented the Three Lions at Under-18, 19 and 20 level, and won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in July, after a 3-1 final victory over Israel.

King’s ex-teammate and now Chelsea full-back Chilwell has 17 senior caps for the Three Lions, and King is adamant that Scott has a bright future ahead of him.

“He can go as far as he wants because he’s got a mature head on his shoulders and all the talent in the world,” he said.

“What will stand him in the best stead is that he is willing to learn, and he will listen, not just with me but with anyone who gives him information, he knows you’re just trying to help and that will take you a long way.”

The talented midfielder has been linked with moves to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the past, but both Pearson and the Robins faithful will be hoping that they can keep hold of their star man for a little while longer.