Rapid Vienna's Austrian striker Guido Burgstaller has suffered significant head injuries during an attack in Vienna at the weekend.

Burgstaller, who previously played with Cardiff City and Schalke 04, is in his second spell at the club and has made 26 appearances for Austria.

"The 35-year-old was attacked by an unknown man in Vienna's city centre and suffered a fracture of the base of his skull after a fall triggered by a brutal blow," a club statement said on Monday.

"Burgstaller was immediately examined and treated in detail in a Viennese hospital. Unfortunately, he will have to spend the next few days there and he will not be able to practice his profession for several months."

Burgstaller made his most recent appearance for Rapid in their 3-1 loss at Omonia Nicosia in the Conference League last week.

Rapid said they "trust in the responsible authorities that the as-yet-unknown perpetrator will be brought to justice quickly".

The club are third in the Austrian Bundesliga standings going into the winter break.