Steve has played five times for the Hammers in his fledgling career, losing just one game, and Alan is backing him to fill James' boots with distinction.
And, on the reports that Seaman was in his mind to come the other way from Manchester City following the sale of James, he says simply:
"He was injured, so he wasn't in my mind."
Seaman has, of course, retired since the arrival of James.
Alan is more concerned with assuring fans that Steve is ready for first team action again, and he says:
"The next step for us is that we need to look at Stephen; he has been patient and he needs to get his chance.
"His contract situation is up so we need to make a decision on him as well and it is a great opportunity for him and he is a good kid about the place.
"All the players here really like him, he is a popular character.
"The situation arose quickly due to Seaman's injury; it has become unexpected for him and it is a real opportunity - and I am hoping he takes it.
Alan does admit that he is looking around at goalkeepers - the untried David Forde is his only other keeper - and he reveals:
"I think that is fair to say, but by the same token Steve will have the shirt on Saturday and he will have the chance of keeping it - and that is all he has to worry about."
There has been plenty of [uninformed] speculation about who Alan wants to bring in but Alan insists:
"He doesn't have to get bogged down in all the other names that are thrown at us; - he just needs to put a top performance in at Sheffield - and if he does he will keep the green shirt for the next game.
"There comes a point where there is no point in him being a number two all his life; you have to rise to the challenge and become a number one.
"What a challenge this is, to replace David James - it doesn't come much bigger, and it is a great opportunity for him.
"Certainly, in my heart, I am hoping he does well because he is such a likeable character and we will all be doing our utmost to make sure this game is a comfortable one."
For the record, Steve - whose father is a familiar, and popular, figure at away games - has played five times, making his debut in the 1999/2000 season as an early deputy for Shaka Hislop in a 5-4 win at home to Bradford.
He starred in an unfortunate 2-1 defeat at Highbury, in which Emanuel Petit briefly took up basketball to score the winner, and kept clean sheets against Sunderland away [1-0] and Leeds at home [0-0].
His last game until this weekend was in a 2-1 win over Bradford in the 2000/2001 season.