"I have been turning out pretty consistent performances. My basic performance is a good one. Which is something I have been working really hard on for the last 18 months, mentally preparing myself for the games and knowing that even if some days you go in and you don't feel great at the start of the game it is a case of mentally adapting to that and making sure you put in a good performance."
Football is all about differing opinions but you would be hard pressed to find anyone questioning Matthew Upson's assessment of his progress since joining West Ham United. The 28-year-old defender has been a colossal figure at the heart of the Hammers rearguard this campaign, playing every single minute. Only two other outfield players in the top flight can match that - Gareth Barry of Aston Villa and Stephen Kelly of Birmingham City - and it is remarkable given injury meant Upson could only make two appearances last season after joining in January.
Such fitness and form has not happened by chance for the No6 who will be key when West Ham United go to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Upson has become a firm believer in mentally preparing for matches - claiming it is as significant as the work done out on the training pitches. He said he came to a point at former club Birmingham where he needed to make another step forward and that leap came in "crossing paths" with a sports psychologist. "You go so far in your career and if you are not making the right kind of progress then you have to change some things," he said.
"I use someone who I speak to a lot about my performance and we analyse everything. My behaviour, my training during the week - everything. It is now starting to pay off." Upson's focus does not begin when he crosses the white line but well in advance. "The preparation starts on Thursday or Friday - whenever you want to sit down and think positively about what you are going to do at the weekend. That is an important factor for players to be able to visualise what they are going to do before they do it.
"Mentally it is something that as a young player I didn't pay too much attention to because you just don't. It is a massive part, it is just as important as physical training. If not more important. Some people habitually can do it, they can focus. Some people can't. You can train, teach yourself or with help learn to improve those skills and have a dramatic effect on your performance. It is quite a personal thing."
Upson does not hide the fact that he is eager to add to his seven England caps - his last was against Spain in November 2004 - but he knows where his priorities lie. "First and foremost, it is West Ham United and the results we get and making sure I am ready to play for them. But definitely it is something I think about, something I want to do and achieve again. That is what I am working towards. That is the pinnacle in everyone's career, to represent their country and it is something that I am very hungry to do again.
"Every time you go and play you are showing yourself off and trying to show people how well you are doing. I think you are always aware of who the opposition is in terms of competition. It is all about me and what I do. Whatever I do, if I get the best out of myself , I give myself every chance to compete and get in the squad and that's all I want to do really.
"Whatever anyone else does is not really my concern. It is all about what I do and I am sure if I do well enough I will get my opportunity. Of course, 100 per cent I believe I am ready to play for England again. I believe I can only get better, I am improving all the time. My fitness and everything else is coming along. It is an exciting time for me personally and I am looking forward to the next seasons."
With West Ham United in the top half of the table and in contention for a top-eight finish at least, Upson admits these are "exciting" times at the Boleyn Ground for him and the club. "Whenever your team is doing well it always reflects on you well individually. You can put in some good individual performances and be in a suffering team. You can still stand out and be appreciated but it always helps if your team is doing well."
He added: "I have changed a lot. Mentally, I am much stronger and much more aware of what my job is and how to go about it. Physically, I am in the best shape of my life and that will only improve with the training and the work that is going on. I can 100 per cent say I am a much better player. Every day I want to get better and I want to learn, I want to improve and those are the things that are going to help me achieve what I want to do." Who can argue with thinking like that?