The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has issued the following statement on behalf of Mark Halsey.
Mark will officiate Wigan Athletic v Blackpool this Saturday, his first Barclays Premier League match since being give the all-clear from throat cancer.
The 49-year-old from Bolton refereed five Football League matches during April and May 2010, but this is his first Premier League match since August 15 2009, Arsenal's 6-1 win at Everton.
FITNESS BACK
"It's been very challenging to get my fitness back up after my treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy," he said.
"But I have been working very hard over the summer to enable me to pass the fitness test and target a return to the Barclays Premier League and refereeing at the highest level.
"That I'm back to full fitness is testament to the medical care I've had at Christie's Hospital in Manchester, as well as the support from the staff and my refereeing colleagues at Professional Game Match Officials, and of course my family. I'm also extremely grateful for the many messages of encouragement I've had from within football and from the general public.
"I'm delighted the disease is behind me now and when I blow that whistle at Wigan on Saturday at 3pm it's a new start. I'm looking forward to being Mark Halsey the professional referee rather than Mark Halsey the cancer sufferer."
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