Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew details the club’s plans for off-contract player Callum Ah Chee

Suns coach Stuart Dew has revealed if injured halfback Callum Ah Chee will return to football at all this year and what the future has in store for the off-contract player.

SUNS coach Stuart Dew has revealed if injured halfback Callum Ah Chee will return to football at all this year and what the future has in store for the off-contract player.

Dew confirmed Ah Chee’s season was over after undergoing ankle surgery on Wednesday after a club statement said the 21-year-old would be out for an extended period a day earlier.

The West Australian has had a horror run in 2018, battling through some personal issues before being struck by quad and ankle injuries.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

The 182cm talent is one of the most promising young players on the list and coming off contract at the end of this year.

But Dew said the club was confident of retaining Ah Chee, who first arrived at the club at the end of 2015 after being taken at pick 8 of that year’s national draft.

“Callum is part of our plans so we are very confident on that,” Dew said.

Callum Ah Chee of the Suns (left) and Hunter Clark of the Saints compete for the ball during the Round 13 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the St Kilda Saints at Riverway Stadium in Townsville, Saturday, June 15, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“We will support him all the way through this and look forward to having him back.

“(The ankle injury) is reasonably significant so that will be it for the year.

“He just got going and back in the side and showed us what he is capable of. More importantly he was feeling really good and confident.

EXPERT ROUND 15 AFL TIPS

DRAFTEE’S FOOTY ABSENCE TO END

WHAT HOSPITALISED SUN?

TOP 10 GOLD COAST SUNS PLAYERS OF 2019 SO FAR

“We look forward to bigger and better things from Call when he comes back.”

Ah Chee’s injury is a big blow to the Suns ahead of Saturday’s Round 15 game against Sydney at the SCG but they will welcome back both Touk Miller and Pearce Hanley after both got through Thursday’s main training session without a hitch.

Dew said exciting draftee Izak Rankine will be on managed minutes when he makes his NEAFL debut for the Suns against the Swans at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, with the club putting no set time frame on his transition into the senior side.

“We will take this week and see how he goes,” Dew said.

“There is no pressure on him to break any land speed records but he is pretty keen to get out there.

“He was OK to go before the bye but we just gave him an extra couple.

“We don’t want to jump too far ahead. We will get him through this week, get him back enjoying footy.

“It’s the first game in our colours officially, even though he played the JLT games. We will all be watching how he goes. Most importantly his teammates are really excited to play with him.”

SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FULL ON FOOTY GOLD COAST AUSSIE RULES NEWSLETTER