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Teibert is also trying to stay fit after complications from off-season ankle surgery caused him to miss the Whitecaps’ first six games. But his inability to secure regular playing time is more complicated and mystifying than that.

The 23-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., is an original Whitecap in MLS. He played 11 games as an 18-year-old in 2011 and appeared to have a breakthrough season two years later when he started 19 times, scored twice and directly generated nine goals for teammates, and pounded 29 shots at net.

But in two seasons and two months since then, Teibert has made 55 appearances without scoring and has lost his starting spot several times.

The winter trade of holding midfielder Gershon Koffie was supposed to clear a place for Teibert alongside midfield anchor Matias Laba. Instead, Teibert is now battling for playing time with Andrew Jacobson, a converted defender who is on his fifth MLS team in eight years.

It would be great if Teibert is captain one day. First he needs to make the starting 11.

“I think it’s important to not look at an end goal and just focus on the process of things,” Teibert said before the Whitecaps travelled Thursday for Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC (1 p.m. Pacific, on TSN1 and TSN 1040 AM). “There was a good analogy thrown at me about trying to hit a bullseye with a bow and arrow. It’s not really about trying to hit the bullseye. First you have to line yourself up, make sure your feet are straight and your body is set. It’s a process, making sure you’re doing everything right, all the little things. I’m going to control what I can and do what I can.