The Honduras international is one of two options to replace the stricken Erik Edman at left-back for Saturday's visit to Portsmouth.

He is yet to force his way into the first-team squad since arriving from Deportivo Olimpia on loan in January and is away on international duty this week.

But Bruce says he has Figueroa in mind for the Fratton Park clash as he prepares for a reshuffle due to injury and suspension.

Edman's knee injury has been confirmed as a
ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and the 29-year-old is currently home in Sweden seeing a specialist.

He will require surgery, followed by a long spell of rehabilitation, and will be sidelined for up to nine months.

Bruce told the Evening Post: "You've got two cruciate ligaments, the
anterior which Erik has ruptured and the interior.
"If you're going to damage either one, the anterior is the one to do, but it's still going to be a long job.

"There is some cartilage damage too, and at the moment Erik is in Sweden seeing the surgeon from the national team.
"He will probably have the operation over there, then it's a month or six weeks off followed by a gradual rehabilitation programme.
"We are happy for Erik to have the injury dealt with in Sweden.
"If I was a footballer playing abroad, I would want to go to my home country for surgery. It's a big blow to us and horrific for him – he'll miss Euro 2008."

Bruce will decide over the next couple of days who to replace him with at Portsmouth, Kevin Kilbane and Figueroa the options.
And the Latics boss also has to restructure the midfield, with Michael Brown, Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas all suspended.

Bruce added: "Certainly Figueroa comes into my plans, he's done well enough since coming to the club.
"He's been here since Christmas and has been getting into it.
"Had Edman not been injured, it would have been ideal to nurse Figueroa along and make a decision in the summer as to whether he has got enough to get into the squad.
"It's an interesting one. I might just have to throw him in and see how he goes.
"We're struggling a bit now with injuries and suspensions,but they are part and parcel of football.

"Having three central midfielders out at a crucial stage isn't ideal, but I hope we have enough strength and depth to deal with it.
"We have a few permutations – I played Josip Skoko and Salomon Olembe together at Sunderland in the FA Cup.
"Then there's the option of putting Paul Scharner back in midfield, although that would then disrupt the back four. But I could put Titus Bramble or Erik Hagen in the defence."

Chris Kirkland is also a concern for the weekend.
The keeper withdrew from the England squad for tonight's friendly in France because of a back injury.

Bruce said: "Thankfully commonsense prevailed and Chris didn't have to travel to London to be assessed by the England doctors.
"That journey wouldn't have been ideal for someone with a bad back.
"We do expect him to be okay by the weekend,
although his back was still a bit in spasm yesterday."