Fans sitting on the northeast side of Mapfre Stadium on Monday were treated to a fun sight early in the Crew’s exhibition against German club Eintracht Frankfurt.

Rookie center back Lalas Abubakar took a moment to gallop near the touchline in an effort to loosen up a few minutes into his start.

“It’s something I always do. I feel like it makes me faster on the field,” Abubakar said with a laugh. “If I feel like my pace is not getting there I try to use my legs to get there faster, so it has helped me a lot.”

What Abubakar was known for early in his playing career in Ghana and during his college career at the University of Dayton has become part of his routine with the Crew. Four months into his first Major League Soccer season, it is clear from Abubakar’s play and on-field routine that he is starting to feel more comfortable at a higher level of play.

Abubakar played mistake-free soccer in his first start on July 4 at Minnesota United — his first appearance of the season — and he again did his part to cut off Frankfurt’s attack in the first half on Monday. The 6-foot, 180-pound defender even leveled Frankfurt defender and U.S. national team player Timothy Chandler just after the 20th minute.

“I saw him coming and I said, ‘I’ve got to use my body,’ ” Abubakar said. “I’m really strong, so if I’m running into people I feel pretty confident.”

Much like rookie homegrown player Alex Crognale, Abubakar could be a candidate for additional playing time depending on how much Crew SC plays with three center backs moving forward. The Crew hasn’t spent much time playing in a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation this season, but has been improved on defense when doing so.

Abubakar, who has played as an outside center back in the alignment, was introduced to three-in-the-back formations in Ghana. The 22-year-old said he feels comfortable with the setup and, recently, with the pace of play in MLS in general.

“I think there have been times when he has lost a little bit of confidence, but overall he has been very steady. It was just about waiting for his opportunity,” coach Gregg Berhalter said on Saturday. “I think Lalas has put himself in a position to deserve another opportunity.”

It's a position that Abubakar has longed for. At the MLS combine in January, Abubakar impressed enough to be drafted No. 5 overall in the 2017 SuperDraft. He then went 19 games without seeing the field for the Crew.

“I wasn’t really frustrated, but I kind of felt a little bit jealous, you know, as the fifth overall pick not playing and then someone who was even a third-rounder playing every single game,” Abubakar said. “But I kept patient and kept going. I knew my time was going to come so I kept going.”

Now he will try to make others jealous, one gallop at a time.

aerickson@dispatch.com

@AEricksonCD