St George Illawarra veteran Jeremy Latimore admits a knee injury he’s been carrying all year factored into his decision to retire at the end of the NRL season.

Latimore will draw the curtain on an 11-year career involving stops at five clubs and two stints at the Dragons, in September.

The 32-year-old returns for Sunday’s clash with Parramatta after missing two weeks having aggravating his knee.

Asked whether the injury had to do with his decision to call time, Latimore said: “A little bit.

“I’ve had it since round one. I’ve had issues with that knee all year and then obviously playing injured and we weren’t winning, it was a bit frustrating.

“But it’s a combination of a lot of things. It’s always been on my mind.

“The last couple of years you always think this could be the last year … I woke up (one) day and I was like, ‘Do I want to keep doing this?'”

Latimore makes his return against the side he debuted with under then-coach Daniel Anderson in 2009 as the Eels famously marched into the grand final.

He was also part of the Warriors squad in 2011 that advanced to the decider and played in finals games at Penrith and Cronulla.

Latimore comes back for a Dragons side all but out of the running for this year’s finals after losing 10 of their past 12 matches to slump to 14th on the ladder.

“It’s been a bit of an emotional week but I’m excited at the same time to get it out of the way and then I’m also back playing, which is good,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there and finishing the year with a bang.”