"I thought it would be nice for the fans to see him so I played him for 60 minutes and as well as scoring he had a great goal disallowed.
"It was a good start for him, a nice, casual, easy start and obviously we are into the nitty gritty on Saturday."
"He will indeed be involved; we are really looking forward to the game and it is another chance to get nearer the guys at the top.
"We have got to take it."
Another recent signing, on-loan Sebastien Carole, may have a little longer to wait for his debut, however.
He also played against the saints and Alan says:
"I heard the fans really took to him which is cool; he has got exciting talent but he is going to have to find his feet first before we involve him in English football.
"He will have to get used to the culture and intensity of it and he will do that in training and in reserve games for a couple of weeks - then we might look to include him."
On trial in that match was Jamie Day from Peterborough, and Alan adds:
"Barry Fry has got high hopes of Jamie so it was good for him to let us have a look at him.
"He is a young player and young players are the sort of ones I am looking for."
Talking of which, Chris Weale, the Yeovil keeper, is still being monitored, and Alan adds:
"We watched him the other night at Northampton and he did well; that is another ongoing issue.
"He might be up here to train again soon and I will be speaking to Gary Johnson about that."
Alan is keen to stress there has been no fall-out with Jermain Defoe following his transfer to Tottenham - despite what some may think following reports insinuating the contrary.
"I was disappointed but I wasn't angry - I didn't say that Jermain had sulked at all," he says.
"I never used those words, and the report that was carried in The Sun was okay but the headlines were poor.
"It was unfair on me and Jermain and I wish him well, I really do.
"I have said all along that I like him, but as far as I am concerned it was a good deal for West Ham with Bobby Zamora coming our way.
"I felt it was the right move for us and I hope that in the long run Bobby will prove that to be correct."