Bristol City defender Kal Naismith can see Alex Scott playing for a top "four or five" Premier League club after branding his teammate "different class".
City successfully repelled all Premier League interest in Scott over the January transfer window with Wolves the only top-flight club to make a serious play for the 19-year-old however they are understood to have baulked at the Robins’ £25m valuation.
With Scott under contract until 2025, City can continue to take a hardline stance, while his market value continues to climb, but the summer transfer window will undoubtedly bring fresh offers for the midfielder especially in light of his form since the turn of the year.
Scott has produced some of his most complete performances in a City shirt, most notably against West Brom in the FA Cup and Preston North End last weekend, and Naismith, who’s now operating in a midfield position directly alongside the teenager, has been as impressed as anyone.
The 'Guernsey Grealish' nickname has been attached to Scott for the last 18 months and Naismith thinks his playing style is reminiscent of the Manchester City and England star when he was playing in the Championship with Aston Villa from 2016-2019.
Speaking on the Open Goal podcast in Scotland, with the hosts not fully aware of Scott’s capabilities, Naismith said: “Have a look for this boy, he’s deadly. A few clubs bid for him - he’s played every game for us - he won the Euros (U19s) with England in the summer.
“Centre mid, little old school, box-to-box. Like a Gerrard kind of (player) - obviously I don’t want to make that comparison, he’s got a long way to go. He’s tall enough, he’s maybe six foot, he can run all day, he’s hard in the tackle, really good on the ball.
“He’s different class, he’s reminding me of when Grealish was in the Champ, he’s obviously more of a centre mid but see that way he takes the ball, lets people get tight to him and then runs away as if they weren’t even there. His past 5-6 games, he’s been tremendous. I can honestly see him going to a top four/five team in the Prem.”
As a senior member of the squad, Naismith jokes that his positioning in defensive midfield and a few “wee comments” give Scott the confidence to perform, but also hints that his future beyond playing lies in coaching and mentoring young players akin to Scott.
The 30-year-old took extra time to praise the work done on his game by now-Southampton manager Nathan Jones and coach Chris Cohen, during their time together at Luton Town, and sees himself in a similar role in the future, albeit with designs on playing for another 10 years.
“I’ll outlast everyone,” he jokes. “But I’d love to play until I’m 40, at a good level. I just think it’s a challenge to constantly set yourself. I might never make it but if I set it now I believe it will hold me to having better standards.
“I reckon that’s what I’ll get into (coaching), that’s my passion, just getting that reward of trying to help younger people. How good would it be for a player to get a big move or do well in life and be on a podcast and credit you?
“The biggest one for me recently has been Nathan Jones. Southampton will do well. He’ll keep them up, definitely.”
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