Dawid Malan believes silverware is not too far away from returning to Headingley.

Yorkshire start the new season against Gloucestershire at Bristol in the LV= Insurance County Championship tomorrow (11am).

The county are targeting their first trophy since 2015 when they won the second of back-to-back Championship titles.

Ironically, in 2016, Malan was part of the Middlesex side which prevented Yorkshire from securing a third straight Championship crown on the final day of the season at Lord’s.

Now, having turned from gamekeeper to poacher, he is confident of tasting success in his third season in the North.

“In the two years I’ve been here, we’ve played some fantastic cricket,” said the England batter.

“We’ve put performances on the board, but we just haven’t been able to get over the line in terms of a trophy.

“It’s just been one more win here and there.

“Hopefully this is the year we can build on the experience we’ve had and get over the line.

“We’ve got some new voices in the changing room as well, and hopefully that can make a difference.”

New coach Ottis Gibson leads a squad which qualified for Division One of the Championship last year, plus reached both limited overs knockout stages.

None of their 17 rivals were able to achieve that, but, unfortunately, the statistic which matters most is trophies won.

“That is the challenge for us, and I want to contribute to that,” continued the left-hander, who is set to be available for much of the first three months of the season at least.

“The last couple of years have been disrupted with Covid, and there’s obviously been the IPL and international stuff as well.

“So starting the season at home is something I haven’t done for a couple of years. I’m looking forward to it.”

Summer has already arrived for Malan.

For that is the name of his first born, a little girl who arrived in January when the 34-year-old was in the midst of the fifth Ashes Test at Hobart.

Him missing out on selection for the subsequent Test series in the West Indies, plus not landing an Indian Premier League contract, were obvious frustrations. But the upside is obvious.

“To come back and have a break, a forced break if you want to put it like that, has been quite refreshing,” he said.

“It’s been amazing to spend some quality time with her. I’ve loved it.”

Malan, who has looked in excellent touch during the last fortnight of pre-season, has only played five first-class games for Yorkshire since leaving Lord’s at the end of 2019.

Those appearances include scores of 73, 219 and 199.

Similar form will put him back on the England Test radar having played all five matches in Australia, scoring 244 runs with two half-centuries.

“I found it challenging,” he reflected of his time Down Under. “After the third Test Match, having been away since before the T20 World Cup in October, mentally that was quite tough considering we’d lost 3-0 already.

“With all the quarantines and bubbles, it made it probably the toughest thing I’ve ever gone through.

“Summer was born on day two of that last Test. That didn’t help having been away for four months and you’re mentally quite tired and drained. But it’s all good now.”

Malan’s main focus now is “enjoying the game I love” and helping to progress Yorkshire’s cause.

“I can’t worry about getting selected or not,” he said.

Yorkshire face a Gloucester side captained by experienced South African batter Graeme van Buuren and includes Pakistan bowling duo Zafar Gohar and Naseem Shah as their overseas players, though the latter is a doubt with a shoulder injury.

They have former Yorkshire seamers Josh Shaw and Jared Warner on their staff, but neither played in last week’s opening round draw against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, where Shah picked up his injury.

Promoted to Division One in 2019, Gloucester have had to wait for a chance to play at this level following all the disruptions brought about by coronavirus.

They had the better of the Northants game, though were unable to force a win during Sunday’s fourth day.

All-rounder Ryan Higgins was their standout player with a second-innings 139 and seven wickets in the match.

“It would be fantastic to put a win on the board and put a smile on people’s faces,” added Malan.

“Gloucester are a really good side. They’ve shown that over the last couple of years with how they’ve developed - promotion and then starting last year really well.

“It will be a challenge, but it is one we are ready for.”