All-rounder Matt Coles says he has returned to Kent to help the club fight for promotion back to the top-flight of the LV= County Championship.

The 24-year-old Maidstone-born star returned to Kent this week having helped Hampshire earn promotion last season and has backed Kent's home-grown squad - which includes Coles and fellow returner Joe Denly - to challenge to repeat the feat in 2015.

He said: "I’m glad to be home as I’ve grown up here and always enjoyed my cricket. The last seven days moved quite quickly.

"Fingers crossed we can challenge for promotion. I’ll be doing my best for the boys so hopefully we can come out on top with the side we’ve got.

"It’s a great bunch of lads. You could feel an entire team of Kentish players if you wanted to and that’s an exciting thing.

"It’s always nice to play in front of your friends and family and feel that connection with the supporters who see you come up through the ranks."

Coles also said he was content to bat wherever he was told in the order and contribute however he could with the ball.

He said: "(Where I bat) is up to Rob Key and Jimmy Adams at the end of the day. I’ll be happy to contribute whenever I can with bat or ball."

Earlier in the week Coles vowed to rekindle his love for the club after rejecting a new deal and leaving to join Hampshire on loan in August 2013 after falling out-of-favour at Canterbury, going on to sign a three-year deal at the Ageas Bowl.

On Saturday however Coles was allowed to leave the south coast club by mutual consent and agreed a return to Kent, where he came through the academy and made his First Class debut aged 19 in 2009.

Kent’s Division 2 campaign starts on April 19 at Essex and Lancashire (26th) before an opening home game against Leicestershire on Sunday, May 3.