"We have still got the option of bringing in Bobby Zamora, Sergei Rebrov, Steve Lomas, Hayden Mullins, and that is without Andy Melville, Rufus Brevett, and Chris Cohen who didn't make the bench at Forest, so we feel we have a good squad, but it is a matter of getting those results - we certainly have a good enough squad to give it a go," he insists.
"All they can do is be patient and wait their turn but the first eleven that go out have to win the game.
"If they don't, it is my job to make sure the next team is mentally prepared and ready to win the one after.
"The opportunities may come on Wednesday for one or two of those faces that featured on Sunday or it may not - but when they come they have got to take them and that is the competition we want."
There has been a story that Teddy Sheringham would be rested but Alan says:
"Teddy got three or four days off last week; we are trying to manage him as best we can to get him through these next three games because then we have another break."
One of the areas where there is intense competition, for example, in the right midfield berth, and Alan knows that Sergei Rebrov is champing at the bit to start in the league at the expense of Luke Chadwick.
Says Alan:
"I was quite pleased with the way Chaddy played on Sunday, he just ran out of steam a little bit towards the end.
"His contribution was pleasing - but he has to keep those performances at that level."