PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Veteran footballer Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson says he is seriously considering international retirement because his body appears unable to handle the rigours of training at this level.

Johnson, 37, was a late second-half substitute for Jamaica in their 2-1 friendly international win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Sunday.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be back in the team because my body is not really feeling too well, to be honest, for international level. Hopefully it’s just a twitch I’m getting now and hopefully when the [2017-18 Premier League] season starts I’ll be feeling much better,” he told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“I haven’t made up my mind fully as yet, but I’m not feeling well in my body… the two-time-a-day training is not really helping my body. I’m feeling a bit of a problem in my Achilles for about three months now and it’s not getting any better. Every time I train I feel like it’s getting worse, and my thighs aren’t feeling well,” Johnson explained.

Johnson, who played professionally for a number of clubs in England, has over 70 caps for Jamaica since his debut in 2001. He has 12 international goals.

Usually playing from an attacking midfield position, Johnson was renowned for burning opposition defences with his speedy dribbles. That pace has left him but he still yearns for competitive football.

He says the focus is on the upcoming season with Tivoli Gardens FC in the nation’s top-flight premier league. Last season he was top goalscorer, hitting the back of the net 16 times.

“I’m definitely playing for Tivoli. Right now I’m just going to concentrate on the Tivoli team, but hopefully something changes for me to think different. When the season starts I’m going to see how my body reacts, then I’ll take it from there,” he said.

Johnson, regarded as the elder statesman in the 18-man squad, welcomed the chance to provide a guiding hand to aid the less experienced players in the Reggae Boyz set-up.

“I am like a big brother to them and guide them in the right way. I don’t try to push anything on them, I just try to teach them and let them watch me do certain stuff and I think it helps a bit,” said the man who had over 200 outings for English outfit Sheffield Wednesday between 2007 and 2014.

He lauded the gritty effort they put in against the hosts.

“It was a good game for the Jamaican-based players because they went out and showed what they are worth. They got the win, so they can strive from this game and go forward,” Johnson concluded.