Kevin Pietersen has backed former England captain Michael Vaughan to "make changes which need to happen" in the national team set-up.

Vaughan has been heavily linked with taking on a role at the ECB as the governing body undergoes a reshuffle that has already seen managing director Paul Downton removed from his role.

Pietersen, who has made no secret of his desire to return to the international scene following a public dispute with the England hierarchy last year, believes that his 2005 Ashes-winning captain is the right man to turn things around.

"[Vaughan] is close enough to the game to make changes which need to happen for the good of English cricket," he told reporters.

"The way he captained shows he'll change the brand of cricket currently being played, which we need."

Vaughan and Alec Stewart are among the names to have expressed an interest in a role with the ECB should it be offered to them.