Austria's Payer signed off for six months

Austria goalkeeper Helge Payer has been ordered to spend at least six months on the sidelines after being diagnosed with liver and gastrointestinal problems.

Blood thinners
Tests conducted last Tuesday showed that Payer has been suffering from partially blocked veins in his stomach, ruling the 28-year-old SK Rapid Wien player out of UEFA EURO 2008™. He had complained of feeling pains in his stomach and back during training. He was transferred from the national team training camp to a vascular clinic in Vienna, where he has been taking blood thinners and continues to undergo treatment.

Rest and recuperation
The goalkeeper, who had been expected to be Austria's No1 at the finals, will have to refrain from any sporting activity for six months – after which he can begin physical training and rehabilitation. Austria coach Josef Hickersberger called up 23-year-old Ramazan Özcan of German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to deputise. Jürgen Macho and Alex Manninger will likely vie for the first-choice goalkeeping slot.