Referee Mark Halsey is targeting a return to duty in the new year after being out of action since August with lymphatic cancer.

The 48-year-old Bolton official has had a tumour removed from his throat and undergone chemotherapy, with three weeks of radiotherapy still to come.

However, his desire to get back onto the pitch remains strong and he is optimistic he will be able to make a comeback at some point this season.

"It has been a long haul," Halsey told the Manchester Evening News.

"All my treatment is due to finish on December 30. Then I will go see a specialist and have another scan and after that we will see where we go.

"But I'm hoping to be back early in the new year and I can't wait."
Halsey's situation has been made even worse because his wife Michelle has also been diagnosed with leukaemia.

However, he is refusing to look on the dark side and revealed he has been inundated with goodwill messages from all sections of the game.

"A lot of the top players and managers have been in touch," he said.

"Once you are across that white line at the end of the game everyone talks to each other and everyone is friends afterwards.

"I got a letter the other day. All it said on the front was 'Mark Halsey, Referee, Bolton' and it arrived at my house. Fantastic. It was very emotional and overwhelming."