Macho strengthens Rapid

Payer injury
Macho's arrival could not have come sooner for Rapid coach Josef Hickersberger after he learnt that first-choice keeper Helge Payer's back injury could keep him out longer than initially anticipated. "Jürgen Macho impressed us a lot when he came on trial here and as it's still not clear when Payer will return, we decided that it was time to take action," said Rapid's director of sport, Peter Schöttel.

One cap
Macho, capped once by Austria, started his professional career with Wiener Sportklub in 1996/97 and also represented First Vienna FC before joining Sunderland AFC in 2000. After three years at the Stadium of Light, he joined Chelsea last summer. He failed to make a single appearance for Chelsea after suffering a cruciate ligament injury after arriving at Stamford Bridge.

European hurdle
Rapid were beaten 2-0 by FC Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their UEFA Cup second qualifying round tie at the Gerhard Hanappi stadium. The second leg in Russia is on 26 August.