THE stars of Chelsea football club this week paid tribute to Britain's real heroes - the servicemen injured fighting for Queen and country.

The News of the World laid on a special Christmas trip for two dozen troops from Headley Court military rehabilitation centre to meet the soccer aces at their training base in Cobham, Surrey.

And as the excited visitors crowded around the touchline a string of footballing legends jogged out from the changing rooms, eager to hear the stories of men ready to sacrifice everything in the line of duty.

Ambush

Chelsea captain John Terry couldn't set foot on the pitch without shaking the hand of every single one and thanking them.

"It's an inspiration to have them all here," he told us proudly. "It means an awful lot to me to meet them.

"These guys put their lives on the line. They're our true heroes."

John was deeply moved by the story of Private Derek Derenalagi-who came back from the dead after being blown up and losing both legs when his Land Rover went over TWO anti-tank mines in a Taliban ambush.

ACTION: Derek in Afghanistan

He was thrown 20 metres from the wreckage, barely conscious, his legs mangled and back broken. Few thought he could survive.

His comrades fought to get him to a field hospital. But the tragic news was that he had no pulse and his lungs had collapsed. Pronounced dead, his pals wept openly and the Commanding Officer steeled himself to tell Derek's family back home.

Then, a miracle. A twitch of his arm, a flicker of his eyelids and surgeons realised Derek's battered heart had sprung back to life!

Eight days later, back in the UK, he awoke from his coma to see beloved wife Ana, 42, and their 17- year-old daughter at his bedside. Derek, 33, told us: "I asked them to take off my boot as my foot was hot but Ana told me I couldn't- because I'd lost my legs above the knee.

"I didn't believe her and she took a picture with a digital camera to prove it.

"I said, 'Well if that's what's happened, then it must be God's purpose.' "

Now, just 16 months after the attack, Fiji-born Derek, of the 2nd battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), has vowed to compete in the 2012 Paralympics.

He is already in the GB track squad, running on the same type of blades used by South African sprint king Oscar Pretoriusis. He's also training with the national volleyball team and planning on some field events, too. "You WILL see me there, I guarantee it," he declared to the Chelsea stars.

"I've served my country in the Army-now I'm going to represent it in the 2012 Games. Just watch me!"

After training, the stars- including England players Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge and Joe Cole-stayed THREE HOURS talking to the soldiers, signing autographs and handing out presents.

PROUD: Derek,Tom Wilde, Joe Cole & Tom Neathway

Honour

The goodies included DVDs from Fox Films, books from Harper Collins, Spitfire real ale and, of course, mince pies and bubbly courtesy of Sainsbury's.

Meeting England legends would leave most fans struggling for words. But it was the Chelsea lads who left the poignant meeting in awe. Blown-up squaddie Derek said: "I told Wayne Bridge what an honour it was for us to meet them. He was embarrassed, looked me straight in the eye and said, 'No, the honour is ours to meet heroes like you.' "

Frank Lampard echoed that. He said: "It's amazing to meet all these lads and see their strength of character. It's great the News of the World is doing this and we love getting involved.

"We play football and are very lucky but it's humbling to see these boys. We all wish the troops at home and abroad a merry Christmas- and come home safe."

Private Tom Wilde from Derbyshire movingly told how he suffered a shattered right knee and saw his best mate killed in a roadside bomb blast last June.

Tom is still limping but vowed to fight back to fitness before his next planned tour of duty in March.

"When I found out my mate had died, I cried," he said. "I'm not ashamed to admit it. Nine men have died on our tour. It makes me scared but it doesn't put me off. I've just got to battle through my injury and fear-I've got a job to do."

Nearby Corporal Marcus Selvey looked at the pitch of athletes training with a longing gaze.

A soldier for 19 years, he regularly ran marathons for charity. But he was robbed of that in May last year when his Land Rover hit a Taliban mine in Afghanistan. Marcus, 39, considers himself lucky to be spared his life.

His right leg was shattered but after 18 months of rehab he is walking again, often in unbearable agony.

Spirit

"I know I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm still here," he said. "This isn't just a day out, it shows us we haven't been forgotten and we're appreciated."

Worcester Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, 25, agreed. He lost THREE limbs in a Taliban booby-trap bomb last June. Last week he was honoured by Prince Charles. But, as a lifelong Chelsea fan he reckoned meeting his idols was even better!

"I shouldn't really say that as I know Charles is the next king-but it's true," beamed Tom.

And after watching the Chelsea stars train for a couple of hours, he showed the indefatigable spirit of the true British Tommy as he joked with them:

"Is that all? I could do that even with no legs!"

Britain's wounded heroes proudly take their place in the traditional team photo alongside Chelsea's 'honoured and humbled' Premier League stars at the club's Surrey training base

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