"We want to get some more attacking options down the right and the loss of Robbie is a blow to him and a blow to us as well because it would have given us a nice option," says Alan.
Reports claim that Robbie, who has signed an initial month's loan but is currently out with a hamstring injury, has already returned to Middlesbrough, but Alan says:
"Obviously that will have to wait and see but I don't really want to extend his loan or even talk about it when we haven't really seen him in a West Ham shirt as such, but that is one of the real problems with loaning players - certainly when you are looking for an impact over a month.
"He had one game where he felt his way in, as you would expect, and he will probably have a couple more games before it is up - so I want to see how he does in them, and then I obviously have to ask the question."
Alan does not want to dwell on the late loss of Don Hutchison and Michael Carrick prior to the Coventry game, and he says:
"That is gone now and there is no point looking back; you have to look forward and I think they both have a great chance for Saturday.
"They have both been playing well for us and certainly since I have been here I have been impressed with both but we are going to take our time with them and make sure they are right for Saturday.
"I want them both available and I think they will be."
As for David Connolly, he will be back to face two of his old clubs, and Alan confirms:
"David will miss this one I think but he will certainly be available for Watford and Wimbledon - and for that Watford game we are certainly going to have a much stronger squad than we have for this game.
"Most of the injuries are not long term which is good news but I think we certainly will have three or four available for Saturday.
"They still have to come through some training and I don't want to raise hopes - we are battered and bruised from something like six games in two weeks and it has taken its toll.
"I still feel that we will have a very strong side on Saturday and we are obviously keen to get that first win under myself.
"We are very keen to get back on track and we don't want to start slipping away from the leaders particularly when we have got a break coming up which we have with international week.
"We still have enough in our tank to get the right result on Saturday."