The 25-year-old looked set to leave the Black Cats following a row with Bruce last month.
“He’s back in the frame,” Bruce told the Northern Echo.
“Sometimes you have a row at work, it happens. But the one thing I’ll never do is bear a grudge.
“We pay his wages, he came back into the team and played very well so he’ll be in contention for Wigan (on Saturday).
“He’s still got a future here because he’s our player. He’s not gone anywhere and if and when he’s required, he’ll play.”