England captain Michael Vaughan is confident of victory over New Zealand in the upcoming three-Test series.

It will be the second part of back-to-back Test series against the Black Caps, England having come from behind to win 2-1 in New Zealand in March.

And Vaughan expects his side to build on that success ahead of what he regards as the tougher half of the home summer against South Africa.

"I'd expect us to beat New Zealand in the early part of the summer and then the series against South Africa will tell us a lot more," he told Michael Atherton in an exclusive interview in The Times.

"I think we're in an excellent situation. One or two of our major players are coming back from injury, and those that we have introduced to the team in the last couple of years - Sidebottom, Cook, Panesar and Ambrose - are really coming on.

"Stuart Broad is the most intelligent bowler I've worked with. (Head coach) Peter Moores is really growing into the role; he's made us fitter and more focused in our fielding drills."

A further boost for England is the return to fitness of Andrew Flintoff, who last played Test cricket 16 months ago.

Flintoff underwent a fourth operation on his left ankle during the winter and has recently returned to action with Lancashire.

Vaughan believes the all-rounder will slot straight back into the England fold for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts at Lord's on May 15, but suggested he will bat at number seven.