When, during last summer, we sat down and made our plans for this season, we had in our minds an ideal shape, squad and team for the coming season.

Up to now, because of various reasons, we have never had the opportunity of picking that preferred squad and team. But on Saturday at Burnley, barring last-minute and unforeseen problems, we will have that rare luxury.

Of our senior squad, everyone should be available, apart from James Collins and Domingos Quina.

Okay, there are players like Pedro Obiang and Edimilson Fernandes, who have only been back with us this week, but at least they are injury-free.

During the international break, we gave the players who were still with us a few days off, but then — especially with Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini, who had recently returned from injury — we concentrated heavily on fitness work.

That strength in our squad now gives me many reasons to be positive as we go to Burnley and then beyond. Between the international breaks, we earned seven points from a possible 12, won in the Carabao Cup and kept four clean sheets.

So, are we improving? Definitely. Was it always good to watch? No, but the aim now is to maintain that compactness but be more expansive. With the players we have available, I am sure we can do that.

All these things together are making this place, this club, this squad more confident. So, now I have to make decisions on who plays and who doesn’t. That is not always nice, but it is impossible to keep everyone happy long term. It’s way better, though, than having no options.

As a player, I can remember being left out only a few times. I recall when I played for Karlsruher in Germany, I had a dip in form and was left out for a few games. Okay, I didn’t like it, but I waited for my chance. I can only remember one other occasion, when I was at Everton.

In Pictures | West Ham's summer signings | 2017-18 5 show all In Pictures | West Ham's summer signings | 2017-18 1/5 Javier Hernandez West Ham United via Getty Images 2/5 Marko Arnautovic West Ham United via Getty Images 3/5 Sead Haksabanovic West Ham United via Getty Images 4/5 Pablo Zabaleta West Ham United via Getty Images 5/5 Joe Hart AFP/Getty Images 1/5 Javier Hernandez West Ham United via Getty Images 2/5 Marko Arnautovic West Ham United via Getty Images 3/5 Sead Haksabanovic West Ham United via Getty Images 4/5 Pablo Zabaleta West Ham United via Getty Images 5/5 Joe Hart AFP/Getty Images

It was different then, though. Yes, players would be moaning about being left out, they would be angry, they would be wanting to ask the manager why. It was always like that and it has always been an issue for the manager, how to tell the players, how to deal with that situation.

What has given the players more strength, perhaps, is now there is so much more fuss about things like that. When I was left out of the team, there was maybe a small piece in the newspapers, but not big TV debates and hundreds of comments on social media. All that has put the players in a stronger position and they are taking notice of all those who are asking, “Why have you been left out?” That is how it is, though. It is my job to make those kinds of decisions and, as long as you do it honestly and fairly, I don’t believe anyone can ask for more.

Diafra Sakho will be in the squad for tomorrow. He is in good shape, he is in a good state of mind and he is pain-free.

Yes, he could have moved on during the summer — and he wanted to do that — but it didn’t happen and, since then, he has reacted well. I have a good relationship with him. He is open and honest and I have to 100 per cent ignore all the history and judge him by what he does on the pitch and in training. I talk to him a little, but I decided to ignore what might happen in the future. With him, I go day by day, week to week.

Burnley have made a good start, especially away. They are a very good team in a positive British way. They will pass if they can, but they can also play direct if under pressure.

Their manager, Sean Dyche, is getting the plaudits and they are thoroughly deserved.