Andrew Gale expects to see Azeem Rafiq handed a new contract at Yorkshire after a seamless re-introduction into county cricket.

The off-spinner, quite literally, capped off a memorable two months the weekend before last when he was awarded his county cap by Gale ahead of the Championship match against Lancashire.

Rafiq, 25, was released by Yorkshire at the end of 2014 before returning to the club in mid-June on a deal until the end of the season.

He has played two Championship matches and is likely to play a third today against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough with Adil Rashid on England duty.

But he has been a fixture in the limited overs teams, taking 21 wickets from 16 matches across both formats.

“If you’d have said a year ago that he will get a Yorkshire cap, he’d have probably just laughed,” said four-day captain Gale.

“Rafa has played an unbelievable part in the limited overs cricket, in particular. His bowling has been outstanding.

“I’d be disappointed if he was capped and then he didn’t get a contract. It’s nothing to do with me, but I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t here next year.”

Rafiq, Jack Leaning and David Willey were all presented with their caps in the dressing room ahead of day one against Lancashire.

Yorkshire plan to repeat the ceremony at Scarborough this week.

“It’s really special handing out the caps,” said Gale. “It’s the best part of my job. To see the way the lads react when you present them with something that they’ve dreamed about since being a young boy is quite emotional.

“They’ve all got different stories to tell.

“I’m particularly happy for Rafa, but the other two lads as well, they deserve their caps after a lot of hard work.

“It has been a tough year for Jack, and he still hasn’t hit his straps in the Championship yet. But he looks in really good shape in the one-dayers.

“Hopefully he can replicate that in the Championship during the last month or so.”

Willey will not be involved for Yorkshire today.

He was due to be on England duty for their one-day series against Pakistan, which starts tomorrow at Southampton.

But the all-rounder suffered a left hand injury whilst bowling at T20 Finals Day on Saturday, and he has been ruled of the first game after scans showed only bruising.

“We knew Dave was a match-winner on his day when we signed him,” added Gale.

“The level of expectation at Yorkshire can be tough to deal with immediately, but as soon as he got over that, he has settled in and won matches for us.”

Yorkshire head into today’s match against the Division One’s bottom side in second place in the table and 26 points behind Middlesex with five to play.

This is their game in hand on the leaders, who they face at Lord’s in the last round of matches next month.

Notts are, surprisingly, in serious trouble at the foot of the table having only won once from their 12 matches this season.

Gale and Jason Gillespie have included seamer Ben Coad and England Test batsman Gary Ballance in a 13-man squad for today’s clash.

Yorks: Gale c, Lyth, Lees, Leaning, Ballance, Lehmann, Bresnan, Hodd w, Rafiq, Patterson, Brooks, Sidebottom, Coad.