MADRID, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid full back Mariano Pernia has been included in the squad to visit APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday, four and a half months after being seriously injured in a car accident.

The Argentine-born former Spain international suffered multiple injuries including fractured bones in his shoulder and back and a punctured lung.

Atletico lie third in Group D, behind already qualified Chelsea and Porto, and need a victory over the Cypriots to claim a place in the Europa League.

(Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

((madrid.sports@reuters.com; +34 91 585 2161; For Reuters sports blog Left Field go to http://blogs.reuters.com/sport))

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