VANCOUVER, BC – Aly Ghazal could make his Vancouver Whitecaps FC debut as early as Saturday against Real Salt Lake (7 p.m. PT at BC Place – tickets still available ).

“He’s definitely in the equation for the weekend, whether he starts or comes off the bench,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told media on Wednesday . “It’s important with three games in a week I get him some minutes because we’re on the downhill stretch now.”

The ‘Caps acquired Ghazal last month after the Egyptian international and longtime Portuguese Primeira Liga midfielder mutually parted ways with Chinese Super League club Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC. He did not appear for Guizhou HFZC in league play due to the new foreign player restrictions, though he did play reserve league and Cup matches.

Ghazal has been working hard to get up to speed from a fitness perspective since arriving in Vancouver, and he’s getting closer and closer to game action.

“He won’t play 90 minutes, that’s for sure,” said Robinson, who has referred to Ghazal as a top midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and strong defensively. “And he probably won’t play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, that’s for sure as well. We’ll manage his minutes, but maybe I’ll get him involved at some stage on Saturday.”

Saturday’s match vs. RSL is Vancouver’s first of four straight at BC Place. They host Minnesota United FC on Wednesday, September 13 and Columbus Crew SC next Saturday, September 16, before concluding the homestand on Saturday, September 23 vs. Colorado Rapids.

The 'Caps currently sit fourth in the Western Conference, though they have games in hand on the three teams above them.

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