Alex Scott Injury Raises Fresh Bournemouth Fears After England Break

For Alex Scott, playing for England was the reward for an outstanding start to the season. For Bournemouth however, it could now become a significant setback.

Scott has withdrawn from the England squad and is returning to the Cherries for assessment after picking up a quad injury ahead of Saturday's 7-0 victory over Croatia.

The early indications are that the 23-year-old could be sidelined for up to two months - a potentially huge blow for a Bournemouth side preparing to return to Premier League and Europa League action in what will be a congested October schedule.

Scott's emergence this season had been one of the brightest stories of Bournemouth's campaign. After establishing himself as an increasingly important player under Marco Rose, he had started all five of the club's Premier League matches, scoring once and providing an assist before earning his first senior England call-up.

And what a few days it had been.

After making his England debut from the bench against Czech Republic, Scott was handed his first international start against Croatia. He lasted 70 minutes of England's emphatic 7-0 victory, earning widespread praise for his performance.

England boss Thomas Tuchel described him as being "at the highest level", while the display appeared to strengthen Scott's case for a much bigger role with the national team.

For Scott personally, there was an even deeper significance to the occasion, as his grandfather sadly passed away while he was away with England during this international break. A hugely important figure in Scott's life and one of his biggest supporters throughout his football journey, his grandfather's death could understandably have provided a reason to return home.

Instead, Scott chose to remain with the squad and play in his honour.

That makes the circumstances surrounding his injury all the more difficult to digest from a Bournemouth perspective, because it is understood that Scott was already carrying the problem before the Croatia match, but was eager to play through the pain in order to take the opportunity to make his first England start.

However, his decision, and England's - has potentially backfired. 

On Talksport this morning, upon hearing the news, presenter Ally McCoist questioned whether that was the right decision, arguing that Scott should not have played if he was already injured given the potential consequences for himself and his club.

Others however, have taken the opposite view, pointing to the criticism players can face when withdrawing from international duty and arguing that Scott simply demonstrated how much representing England meant to him.

There is certainly a balance to be struck.

Nobody can question Scott's commitment to his country, particularly given the circumstances surrounding this particular international break. But from Bournemouth's perspective, there will inevitably be frustration if playing through an existing problem has ultimately resulted in a lengthy absence.

The timing could hardly be worse, as Bournemouth return to Premier League action with a trip to Chelsea on Saturday before welcoming Sturm Graz to the Vitality Stadium five days later for their first Europa League league-phase home fixture. Days later, they face Sunderland in an ultra important home clash at Dean Court.

With Scott having been such an important part of Rose's midfield, his absence would leave a significant hole at precisely the moment the Cherries' fixture list begins to intensify.

There is also an uncomfortable coincidence which Bournemouth supporters will inevitably notice.

Scott isn't the only highly-rated young Bournemouth player whose stock has soared before being struck down by injury.

Junior Kroupi was attracting significant attention after an outstanding breakthrough campaign, with interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, before suffering a foot injury that required surgery and has ruled him out for several months.

Now Scott - another player whose performances have generated serious transfer interest, including reported interest from Chelsea after the Blues saw a £64million bid rejected in the summer - has suffered a potentially lengthy injury just as his profile has reached another level.

Of course, injuries happen. There is no suggestion of anything more sinister, and it would be unfair to imply otherwise, but for a Bournemouth side that has built much of its recent success around developing young players and watching their values rise, it is an undeniably frustrating coincidence. The hope now will simply be that the initial fears surrounding Scott prove to be overly pessimistic.

For Bournemouth supporters, the overriding feeling is likely to be a mixture of immense pride and considerable frustration.

Scott has earned his England opportunity. He has taken it brilliantly. But now everyone connected with the Cherries will be hoping the price for doing so isn't a lengthy spell on the sidelines.