By Saj Chowdhury

Hunter was diagnosed in April

Snooker's Paul Hunter is likely to make his comeback at the UK Championship in December after recovering from cancer.

The 26-year-old from Leeds was diagnosed with the illness prior to the World Championship in April and has been receiving treatment since.

"Paul's finished his chemotherapy and he's in remission," the player's manager Brandon Parker told BBC Sport.

"He'd like to return for the Grand Prix in Preston next month, but the UK Championship seems more realistic."

Parker added that it would be difficult for the three-times Masters champion to be physically and mentally fit for the first event of the season.

"He hasn't practised at all. It would be silly to do so if you are only at 10% or 20% of your physical strength," said Parker.

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"But his mood is very, very good at the moment. His wife threw him a party last week and they were in great spirits."

Hunter was diagnosed with cancer in April, but played at the World Championship later that month.

He lost his first-round match 10-8 to friend Michael Holt, but received a huge ovation from the Crucible audience at the beginning and end of the match.

"Once he got his head round the fact he had cancer, and he knew what was ahead of him and what he had to do, he just got on with it," added the player's manager.