IN his five years as Burnley boss Sean Dyche has never had the severity of selection headaches that his current Clarets squad is causing him.

Dyche is now in charge of the deepest squad he's ever been able to work with at Turf Moor, and as a result that means leaving players out of the team and out of the matchday 18 on a regular basis.

The return to fitness of Nahki Wells, Dean Marney and Jon Walters will only increase the selection dilemmas for Dyche, but he insists honesty is the best policy as he strives to keep all members of his squad happy.

"It's tough and respect has to be two ways in that situation," the Clarets chief said.

"I've mentioned already this season with Charlie Taylor – I think he's developing and I think he's moving forward as an individual with how he's operating.

"He'll be frustrated that he hasn't hot in that many times but when you look at the knife-edge off football, he's the next in and I'd have absolutely no doubt if anything happened to Wardy at this current time – Wardy is playing very well – I'd put him straight in

"There's no confusion currently in the active squad, if you like. That can be difficult. The challenge that comes next is when Nakhi is fully fit, which he's on the cusp of right now. There's a challenge in that – who's involved, who's not.

"There has to be respect both ways. I understand the profession and how hard it is for them. Equally, they've got to understand the group and how important the group is at this football club because at the end of the season it's the whole group that counts.

"There's a good awareness of that here. It's difficult for them, it's difficult for us as staff and coaches because you can only pick 11 and subs. Outside of that it's a juggling act every week for different reasons."

Dyche has succeeded in keeping his squad happy and driven so far, and he believes the collective nature of a group of players is essential to success at a club like Burnley.

And he references the example of James Tarkowski, who was no more than a fringe player for 18 months before grasping his opportunity with both hands.

"The understanding of the bigger picture has become important," Dyche said. "We're not the superpowers who can just roll around the division winning every week. They know that the combined work ethic and combined belief among the whole squad is absolutely important.

"It's not 100 per cent vital but it's very important in the make-up of a successful group, They're aware of that. Although there might be disappointments along the way for some they are aware and I think we've got a good group to pay that respect back.

"I'm sure the players give Charlie a lot of respect for how he conducts himself, how his professionalism is, how he trains every day.

"And not forgetting there's an obvious story with Tarky. He was waiting – can he do it? Can he play well?

"All those months working hard behind Keano and Ben last season, training hard and staying on top of himself. When you're needed that pays you back.

"Right in front of your eyes there are situations that they've all seen and I think that can help. It still doesn’t lessen the moment but if there's a bigger picture."

Dyche looks back to his own playing days when adding: "I'm never dishonest with players. I judge it by when I was a player. Even when it wasn't great news still preferred to know the truth.

"That's what I tell the players – look, at the moment I just physically can't get you in."

But management has moved on from the days when Dyche was coming through the ranks at Nottingham Forest.

He said not many players were knocking on Brian Clough's door asking to know why they weren't involved, but that the entire nature of squad management has moved on.

"Yeah, loads of people used to knock on his door – there wasn't much of that," Dyche joked.

"But, do you know what, life's changed since then, not just football because back then they just put a team up on the board. No information, that was it.

"I think when I originally played it was two subs. An XI pinned on a board, two subs and that was it.

"Now there's feedback, advice, guidance and all that. Rightly so, I would say, some of it. It has moved on in a positive way with that side of things."