But the 29 year old striker is back in contention for the visit to Ewood Park and gives Bruce more options up front after the injury to Antoine Sibierski on Sunday.
The Frenchman injured his calf in the warmup for the game with Bolton and Bruce couldn't use the 33 year old as a substitute, even after gonig down to ten men.
Bruce told the Wigan Observer: "Benty's been injured. He's had a shin injury and hasn't featured for the last two games. But he's been training this week and he's in the equation for Saturday.
"Sib pulled his calf warming up on the sidelines against Bolton and he'll be out for 10 days. I was going to bring Sibierski on alongside Emile Heskey and keep two strikers on against Bolton when Jason Koumas got sent off.
"I remember when I was on an FA coaching diploma in 2003 and they asked us what we'd do if we went down to 10 men in the first five minutes. Some managers go for 4-3-2 which we did and it was vital.
"We changed to go 4-4-1 for five minutes, but the ball came back at us too quickly. We didn't want to surrender and go backwards."
Bent is likely to replace Marlon King in the starting line-up after the Jamiaican's slow start to life at the JJB Stadium.
Meantime, the club are not going to appeal against the red card received by Jason Koumas on Sunday. Referee Steve Tanner was very quick to produce the red for what he deemed a two footed tackle but as a smaller club in the Premier League it is not worth risking a frivolous appeal.
Bruce added: "We decided against it on the grounds of what happened to Jeremie Aliadiere when he was sent off at Liverpool and then had his ban extended.
"It was a harsh decision. I don't think Jason has a bad tackle in him, and I feel for the lad because he's been terrific. I couldn't have left him out of our last three games, but we're not going down the line of appealing."
As a result, Koumas is banned for three games, starting with this weekend's trip to Ewood Park.
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