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Sydney FC's John Aloisi - Source: Getty Images -
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Sydney FC have been dealt a major blow ahead of Saturday's A-League grand final with key striker John Aloisi ruled out with a torn hamstring.
Aloisi sustained the injury during Saturday night's preliminary final win over Wellington Phoenix.
Challenging for a loose ball 19 minutes into the match the former Socceroo marksman reached for his hamstring and later collapsed on the field.
The 34-year old underwent scans on Sunday and held out some hope he could play in the decider against Melbourne Victory but results from MRI scans confirmed a torn left hamstring that would keep him out for between 6-8 weeks.
"I'm shattered," Aloisi said.
"We have worked so hard to get here and to have it taken from you is really devastating."
"When it happened I knew something wasn't right but you always have hope.
"When I got the news from the doctor it was pretty upsetting."
After a slow start to the season Aloisi has been in strong form in recent months and had bagged 10 goals for the sky blues.
The injury might mean the end of Aloisi's Sydney FC career with the forward out of contract and linked to a move to start-up club Melbourne Heart next season.
Chris Payne is expected to come straight into the starting line-up for Aloisi.
It will be just the 19 year-old's third starting match for Sydney but he looks to be in excellent form having put away two goals for the side during their 4-2 win over the Phoenix.
But he's also likely to be subject to plenty of attention after one of those goals was clearly a handball, earning the ire of Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.
