JERMAINE Johnson has always had a love affair with the Jamaican football public.

He’s highly talented, though often inconsistent, but he brings to the table a level of individualism which is not very common.

The 32-year-old Sheffield Wednesday midfielder/winger has been described in some quarters as “a volcano of talent waiting to explode”. Others have portrayed him as “a very explosive and skilful player with amazing dribbling abilities, who goes by defenders at will”.

Popularly called ‘Teddy’, Johnson is a native of Southside, a community in South St Andrew, and a former National Premier League player with Tivoli Gardens.

The late Reggae Boy player and coach Peter Cargill was a huge admirer of his talent, and often spoke glowingly about how the player “glides” past opponents.

Teddy last represented the Reggae Boyz in a 3-2 friendly international victory over Panama inside the National Stadium on June 7, 2009, the last of John Barnes’ nine games as head coach.

Johnson scored a beauty in that game, which helped the Boyz break a 40-year jinx, having last beaten the Central Americans on November 3, 1969.

He received a pass midway his own half, turned his marker expertly, then went on one of his trademark mazy runs which saw him accelerate between two opponents before dribbling straight down the centre of the field, and with the defenders retreating, skilfully shot home from just inside the penalty area, sparking wild celebrations inside the venue.

Sadly, Johnson, along with Panama’s captain Felipe Baloy were ejected in time added for violent behaviour.

His international career was rekindled when he took the field against Mexico on February 6, 2013, before he was substituted by Theo Robinson in the 54th minute.

There’s a possibility that he might not see any action from the start today, based on the coaches’ tinkering with the team at training all week, but he’s certainly an odds-on bet to match his wits and guile against the robust Panamanian defenders, because he has that natural, instinctive ability to unbalance any defence with his quick-footedness, pace and skill.

The man who signed with English club Bolton Wanderers from Tivoli Gardens on September 20, 2001 for an undisclosed fee, was used in the space just behind lone striker Ryan Johnson in that game against Mexico.

On that occasion, he was forced to play a disciplined role by tracking back and lending support when the Mexicans had possession of the ball on the much bigger Azteca Stadium pitch. But now playing at home in a more conducive environment, and a team strategy to push the tempo, if given the licence he certainly has the ammunition to deliver the goods.

“I am a dribbler, so I’m just going to try to get in the game and go at them with my pace, with my dribbling, but most of all to try to help out the team in defence or anything I might be called on to do, that’s about it,” explained Johnson.

He said the Boyz are ready and are eagerly awaiting the Panamanians.

“To be honest everyone is anxious and ready for the game. We are all focused and we have our feet on the ground, so we just need to keep calm, be comfortable and everything will be right for us.”

Standing at 1.85m, Johnson, who departed Bolton Wanderers for Oldham Athletic on a free transfer in 2004, joined Bradford City from Tivoli Gardens on loan two years later, after returning to his local club Tivoli Gardens in 2005.