NEW Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner will be raring to go in Worcestershire Rapids’ NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

The 25-year-old returns to New Road this summer after making just one appearance in the competition in 2016.

Santner will link up with Rapids after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy in England throughout June.

“Mitchell plays for New Zealand and I am pretty sure he will be selected in their Champions Trophy side,” said County director of cricket, Steve Rhodes.

“How far New Zealand go in the trophy will depend on when we might see Mitchell at Worcester.”

Last summer Santner broke a finger when fielding in his first appearance in the competition against Durham Jets which cut short his spell with the County.

Rapids made a sparkling start to the 2016 T20 Blast but failed to progress from the north group.

“He will be raring to go for the T20 competition,” said Rhodes.

“He was a great loss to us last year. We put our plans around him as a spinner, a top-order batsman, a gun fielder and an experienced international player.

“To lose him was a big blow after one game and it affected the balance of our team.

“Hopefully we will see him in the full programme this summer.”