Birmingham have put Senegal captain Aliou Cisse on the transfer list after he turned up late for pre-season training. But Blues manager Steve Bruce has told the tough-tackling midfielder that he could still have a future at St Andrews.
The situation arose after Cisse was told to report a few days earlier than the rest of the squad after missing much of the second half of last season through injury.
He did not receive the messages requesting his earlier arrival because he had lost both of his mobile phones, the Birmingham website reported.
The club accepted this but the final straw was when the player arrived 90 minutes late for the start of regular pre-season training.
The Birmingham website said that Cisse had been transfer-listed for "a serious breach of club discipline".
But Bruce said that Cisse could still be rehabilitated at the club if his attitude improved.
"Aliou has been placed on the transfer list and fined two weeks' wages for behaviour, in my view, that is unacceptable," said Bruce.
"I am bitterly disappointed with Aliou's attitude. Until he proves he wants to play for us, that he wants to be part of the squad again, I don't want him around the place.
"I've sent Aliou away and told him to come back when he's fit and raring to go," added Bruce.
"He must prove to me that he's the Aliou Cisse who came here a year ago and set the place alight.
"It's not the end of the line for him - he's got to toe the line."
Cisse was signed last summer from Montpellier after impressing in the World Cup.
The 27-year-old played 21 games for the Midlands side last season before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
I've sent Aliou away and told him to come back when he's fit and raring to go. 
