TORONTO

Unhappy and disillusioned, Luke Moore was heading home.

Following six games last season with defunct Chivas USA, who could blame him?

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” Moore told the Toronto Sun in a rare one-on-one.

“I was going home. I wasn’t happy.”

Then former TFC bench boss Ryan Nelsen rang his phone.

“He told me great things about Toronto,” the soft-spoken Moore added.

The 29-year-old Englishman was traded from Chivas to Colorado to TFC in early May, quietly chipping in six goals and four assists for a Toronto FC side in disarray.

Now, following a brief restructuring of his MLS deal, Moore says he’s finally content where he is after a topsy-turvy 2014 that saw him play for three teams in three different countries.

“Everyone is treating me top-class,” Moore told the Sun. “Great facilities. Great fans. Stadium is improving. This is a good franchise to be at.”

With Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco the featured forwards, though, Moore is still coming to terms with his role — which could become clearer with Altidore (international duty) ruled out this weekend at Salt Lake City.

“I feel like I’m adaptable,” Moore said. “I can play as one of two forwards. I can play as a lone forward.”

And, if necessary, “as a No. 10,” he said.

He reiterated he isn’t making any predictions.

Lost in it all is the fact the Reds — while still lacking in certain areas — have a wealth of experience up front, including a former Premier League forward who’s still in his prime.

Moore has played at the highest level. He has scored in England’s top flight.

While he says the differences between here and there are “obvious,” he’s pleased with what he has seen since arriving from the Soccer Capital of the World early last year.

“The one thing I’ll say is that MLS teams — although ability-wise it’s not a top league — they try and play the right way,” Moore said. “They don’t just get their heads down. It’s a results business so there’s always a temptation to play ugly football. Most teams try and play football and play on the ground.”

As for Toronto FC, Moore isn’t eager to commit to sentiment held by pundits and fans.

The Reds are expected to make the playoffs. They’re expected to entertain.

Most of all, they’re expected to be far better than they were after spending a chunk of change.

“We’ll see,” Moore said. “It’s too early to make predictions.

“There are too many people wanting to make predictions ... We have a lot of work to do. That’s what we should be focused on.”

As Moore points out: Toronto FC lost some good players, too.

For now, though, Moore is attempting to carve out a place in head coach Greg Vanney’s system — and enjoy what he termed one of the best markets the league has to offer.

“I find Toronto enjoyable, to be honest,” Moore said. “The lifestyle is very good, especially in top cities like Toronto, New York and L.A. You’ve got good stadiums, different stadiums to Europe.

“I always wanted to come here. I came here preseason with a few teams. We played against Toronto FC one time and we had a great time.”

In retrospect, he’s glad his former TFC bench boss rang him up when he was at wits’ end.

But as for getting some of his European teammates to leave for MLS, that’s an entirely different question.

“You’ve got to be able to do it financially,” Moore said matter-of-factly.

“If you’re not stable, you’re not coming. It’s that simple.”

In Toronto, Moore has finally been able to put down new roots.

MLS SET FOR TWIN CITIES

Major League Soccer is set to expand to the City of Lakes.

The league confirmed Monday it will make a “major announcement” in Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon amid rampant speculation the Twin Cities will house MLS’s 23rd team.

Commissioner Don Garber and Minnesota United (NASL) owner Bill McGuire will be on hand at Target Field — home of the Twins — to make an announcement on “the future of soccer in Minnesota.”

The worst-kept secret in MLS was all but confirmed last week, when MLS officials confirmed the league was in “advanced discussions” with McGuire, who was battling head-to-head with Minnesota Vinkings ownership to bring soccer to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

McGuire’s bid — which is also backed by the Twins and Timberwolves — beat out the NFL franchise’s attempts with an ambitious plan to construct a downtown soccer-only stadium.

It’s unclear when Minnesota United will enter MLS or how large the expansion fee is (estimated to be at least $100 million).

Sports Illustrated speculated Monday that 2018 is the likely timeline — although it’s possible Minnesota could join in 2017 if expansion side Los Angeles FC fails to open its stadium by that time.

There are currently 20 active MLS teams, with both Atlanta and LAFC scheduled to begin play two seasons from now.

Minnesota will be team No. 23, with Miami, Sacramento and San Antonio thought to be vying for the league’s 24th franchise.