Gold Coast recruit Izak Rankine's much anticipated return has been pushed back another month at least after he suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury at training this week.

The Suns were hopeful the No.3 draft pick would return either this week or next but the 19-year-old felt the injury at training and the club decided to push back his return date.

Izak Rankine has suffered an injury setback. Credit:Eddie Jim

While the club is disappointed that Rankine isn't ready, Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said the Suns were being "super conservative" in their approach with the explosive forward, as they wanted to set him up for a long career.

Rankine showed his class in the pre-season series before being injured in the second JLT game, and his return ahead of the bye was expected to provide the Suns with a real boost after they made an impressive start to the season, winning three of their first four matches.

The Suns have lacked some pace inside the forward 50, which has proved costly in their past three games, though the club pushed the defending premiers West Coast every step of the way in Perth in round seven.

However they have shown they are on the right track, with their young players buying into the competitive game plan of second-year coach Stuart Dew.