Steve Lomas, who made a brief appearance from the bench on Saturday in his first game of the season, does not travel, and Rob Lee, who played in the reserves midweek, is also not involved.
"Rob Lee and Steve Lomas are not really quite right but Lomy is feeling a lot better about himself than perhaps Rob is at the moment.
"That is important because it is the player who ultimately makes the decision.
"Steve is trying to get back to full form and he has shown signs of that during the week - he will certainly be involved on Tuesday.
"He is a character and a winner; that is what you want in the dressing room and the fans know that - they will be more comfortable knowing he is in there."
As for Don Hutchison's situation following recent surgery, Alan explains:
"He hasn't really kicked a ball yet so there is still some way to go."
Looking at the game against the Canaries, Alan says:
"They are all vital games, obviously, but you can't get away from this being a big game.
"We are showing signs of improving and we go there in good spirits."
"They have opened a nice little window of opportunity for themselves and with the lead they have you would expect them to win the league - but the pressure might kick in.
"I have used their training ground and it is fantastic; they are rebuilding their stadium and are gearing themselves to get in the Premiership.
"They have got a great manager and they have got a really great chance of going up.
But we feel that we are in there and that we are going to be competing for those top two spots.
"The run-in we have got is not daunting and we have got some very good players on the staff; we will head for the stars as long as I am here and see where we fall.
"If you don't set your goals to win the league what is the point being in it?
"We set our goals here to do that and I expect all my staff and all my players to be focused on that."
While outside observers may deduce that Alan is now nearer to getting 'his' squad together, he himself says:
"Everyone keeps talking about my stamp, but my stamp, my personality was here from the day I arrived. "It takes time and it is a case of how long is a piece of string?
"I don't know when I am ever going to be completely happy; I was never happy at Reading and I am sure I am never going to be totally happy here in terms of the fact you always want your team to improve and be better.
"I am confident this team is good enough to be promoted."
Reiterating his thoughts on the loan system, which he feels is too wide-ranging, he says:
"At Reading we had seven clean sheets and seven wins in a period when we had Matthew Upson on loan.
"It is a system that is open to abuse; I am not saying anyone is, but for me it is too wide open and I don't know if it is good for players that are under contract, for managers, or for clubs themselves.
"We have had so many players coming in and out of here on that system because of the financial burden.
"Perhaps the leeway has increased this year, but what I am saying is that I personally believe it is not a good system as it is at the moment.
"Even for trying to set your standards and organisation up it is difficult, and that is what my point is.
"Norwich have used the loan system well and I think we have too, but it is too big and obscuring the picture - and will get even more complicated nearer the window."
Regarding the recent changes in personnel, Alan says:
"Players go and players come at football clubs; I like Jermain and I really wish him well but he is not a West Ham player at the moment.
"Bobby Zamora, McAnuff, Nowland, and the rest have come in and settled well and I have been very happy with their progress.
"It is a big four days for us with the Fulham game to come; we are excited and looking forward to the challenge."
Alan relishes the big games, and following the trip to the league leaders, the reward for beating Fulham next week is the biggest of them all, that away game at Manchester United in the sixth round of the FA cup.
"There is some history between West Ham and Manchester United and in the FA cup you can take a much bigger allocation to Old Trafford, so I think we would have about eight or nine thousand.
"It is a great incentive for us to win it for them and we will be looking to do that - but first things first, we have a massive game on Saturday."
As for the issue of the away form being better than the home form at the moment, Alan says:
"I think there is an obvious answer to that; there is expectation at home to win and that puts pressure on players, which has been a problem for us.
"The history of our results at home over the last 10 months has been a problem for us to cope with and they are factors you can't take away.
"There has been a mental battle, but the game against Rotherham was a good performance and a good win - and you can only go on that.
"That is where we are at the moment so as far as I am concerned our home form is terrific going into Tuesday."
SQUAD: Bywater, Srnicek, Mullins, Repka, Melville, Dailly, Harley, Harewood, Carrick, Etherington, Connolly, Deane, Zamora, Reo-Coker, Horlock, Nowland, McAnuff, Carole, Ferdinand.