"Aliou has trained really well over the last two weeks and put himself back into contention.
"He has come back more like the Aliou Cisse of old in the last couple of weeks and played in two reserve games," Bruce told the Blues official website, bcfc.com.
"Aliou will be back in the squad for Southampton for the first time since the Blackburn game in January.
"He is a very good player when he is doing what he is good at, and if he plays by the rules like everybody else, then he will be picked on merit."
