Victory blow as Traore sidelined

Blow ... Adama Traore is ruled out of action for at least three weeks with an ankle injury. Source:News Limited

Melbourne Victory's A-League finals hopes have been hammered with the loss of star left-back Adama Traore for at least three weeks, and perhaps the rest of the season.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	24	16	2	6	15	50
2	Central Coast	24	13	6	5	22	45
3	Victory	24	12	4	8	3	40
4	Adelaide	24	12	3	9	3	39
5	Sydney	24	9	3	12	-8	30
6	Newcastle	25	8	6	11	-12	30
7	Brisbane	24	8	5	11	1	29
8	Perth	24	8	4	12	-2	28
9	Heart	24	8	3	13	-4	27
10	Wellington	25	6	6	13	-18	24

Traore injured his ankle in the Victory's 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar last weekend.

The club says the extent of the damage to his injured ankle is yet to be fully determined, though he is certain to miss three to four matches.

But he may need surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament, which could end his season.

"While X-rays showed there was no fracture, an MRI revealed a high ankle ligament tear," the Victory said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Traore and the club's medical staff will meet with a surgeon (on Wednesday) to determine the best course of action."

Fox Sports football commentator Adam Peacock took to Twitter to explain Traore's importance to the team.

Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou hopes he can have the talented 23-year-old - pivotal in the Victory's impressive campaign - back for the finals.

"We're hopeful that Adama won't require surgery and that he'll be back before the end of the season, but if he does need an operation his rehabilitation will obviously be longer," Postecoglou said.

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