Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has backed Kevin Pietersen to be a "huge asset" for the team following his decision to sign a deal at The Oval.

The 34-year-old batsman will represent Surrey during the upcoming County Championship campaign.

Pietersen has made a return to county cricket in order to boost his chances of an England comeback.

"A Kevin Pietersen with ambitions to play for England and a real determination to score big runs for Surrey will be a huge asset to us," Stewart told the club's official website.

Pietersen has not played for his country since falling out with the England and Wales Cricket Board and members of the England squad after their disastrous 2013-14 Ashes tour of Australia.