TORONTO

To be fair, it’s not Sebastian Giovinco’s job to scout the opposition.

And, quite frankly, who cares what he knows about Sunday’s opponent, Real Salt Lake?

“I know it’s a three- or four-hour flight,” Giovinco said through a translator Friday.

He mentioned the altitude, too. But didn’t offer much else.

It’s all the same for Toronto FC’s Italian Designated Player, who is expected to score and perform no matter who the Reds are facing.

“I will try to be more selfish,” Giovinco said after being reminded of the glorious first-half chance he passed up in Columbus two weekends ago.

“In Italy, I preferred to let other guys score. I’m working on it and will try to score more goals.”

He’s confident the more he scores, the more likely Italy manager Antonio Conte will recall him to the national team after being omitted from Italy’s most-recent Euro 2016 qualifying roster after previously appearing for the Azzurri late last year.

“I knew about it little bit (in advance),” he said. “It’s fine for now.”

The 28-year-old knows it’s up to him to show Conte he’s still playing at a high level despite leaving Serie A.

“(Conte) wants every player to train always the best,” Giovinco said. “You then know you’ll have the chance to play for Italy. It’s up to me to play well and score to get called back up.”

Meanwhile, the league’s top-paid player is settling into his new place in downtown Toronto.

He has an Italian-speaking handler. His family arrived in Toronto earlier this month.

“I love the city,” Giovinco said. “Everything is different and everything is so huge compared to Italy. I’m excited to learn the city. Compared to Italy, they don’t talk about soccer every day. It’s more relaxing.”

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Toronto FC draftee Clement Simonin, 23, joked about buying a shiny “red Ferrari” with his new MLS contract.

The first-year centre back, who head coach Greg Vanney said earlier this year was most MLS ready, was signed to an MLS contract Friday.

Simonin was inked to a USL contract earlier this month, but has since been called up to the first team as a result of injuries.

“It’s very exciting,” Simonin said. “I’m super excited to go and compete. It’s positive and I’m just very excited to start.

“It’s way ahead of schedule for sure. I’ve been working hard with TFC II. I’m ready to get the best out of it.”

Simonin was a relative unknown coming out of North Carolina State this past off-season.

Some heads turned when general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and Co. drafted the Frenchman ninth overall.

“It’s been a very smooth transition,” Simonin said. “My mind is like that. I’m always chill. If I’m here, it’s because I worked for it.

TREATMENT TABLE

The list of injured or suspended Toronto FC defenders is a little ridiculous — especially when you consider it’s just Week 3 of the MLS season.

Caldwell: Calf injury.

Justin Morrow: Red-card suspension.

Mark Bloom: Quad strain.

Eriq Zavaleta: Unknown injury.

“It’s what happens sometimes,” Vanney said. “It’s frustrating. It’s a little bit of a perfect storm because it’s an international week. It has hurt us in terms of starters and depth.”

Caldwell’s injury likely means the reinsertion of Nick Hagglund next to Damien Perquis, who passed fitness tests on Friday ahead of the teams scheduled Saturday departure for Salt Lake.

On the left, Ashtone Morgan could feature in place of Morrow despite having played sparingly the past few years.

After that, there’s not much to talk about other than to talk about what-ifs.

“Jackson could play as an outside back,” Vanney said. “Daniel Lovitz has taken some reps at outside back. We don’t anticipate that.”

Still, the Reds are an injury or illness away from having to play a few guys well out of position.

“It’s a fluke that a few guys have gone down at the same time,” Vanney added.

DOWN GOES CALDWELL

Former TFC skipper Caldwell told the Toronto Sun during pre-season he hoped to play until he’s 40.

Toronto FC’s top brass are just hoping the 34-year-old will appear in a sizable number of games this season.

Two games in and Caldwell has been forced to sit out with a lingering calf strain.

The Scottish centre back could miss next weekend’s match in Chicago, too.

“It’s disappointing to Steven and everyone,” Vanney said. “For us, we have to adapt. That’s why we have centre backs in our depth chart. We need them to step up and show us early in the season what they can provide us.”

Caldwell missed a third of the 2014 season due lingering issues with his quad.

CANADA ... WINS?

The Canadian men’s national team topped Guatemala in a friendly on Friday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

It was the team’s second win in 22 tries dating back to Oct. 12, 2012.

A first-half goal from Marcus Haber was the difference.

Before this summer’s Gold Cup, Canada will enter CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in the second stage.

Les Rouges will face the winner of a first-round aggregate tie between Dominica and the British Virgin Islands in June.