JeVaughn Watson looks to get the ball away from Panama's Yairo Glaize (front) during a friendly international recently. - AP

Participating in his first World Cup Qualifying campaign, JeVaughn Watson has conceded to being a bit overwhelmed by the occasion.

The result has been the midfielder not being his usual expressive self in the team's opening two CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) semi-final matches.

The 28-year-old played the full 90 minutes in both the 2-1 win over Guatemala, at the National Stadium, and Tuesday's nil-all away draw with Antigua and Barbuda.

"It is the occasion, because even in last (Tuesday) night's game I got like two players and sometimes I can really take on the guys, but sometimes some of the players are moving behind, so I try to play a passing game," Watson said on Wednesday night at the Norman Manley International Airport after the team returned to the island.

performance

"I think my performance could have been better, but I think in the second half I picked up my game because in the first half, I was probably a bit timid," he added.

Watson was concentrated in central midfield during his six years with national premier league outfit Sporting Central Academy. He has, however, so far been deployed in a wide role for the national team.

"I am comfortable playing there (wide) or wherever the coach puts me, because I am a professional soccer player and wherever I play, I will go there and do the best for myself and my country," Watson said. "Playing out there I get a lot of balls and I have a lot of speed and that's what the coach wants me to do, to run the flank up and down; I am a very mobile player, so I try to do whatever they say I should do," he added.

Jamaica next qualifier will be against the United States on September 7 and Watson is promising a more inspired performance.