DASHING Gold Coast defender Adam Saad ran for the first time on Monday following hip surgery late in the season.

Saad was a bolt from the blue in 2015, joining the Suns from VFL club Coburg and bursting off the rookie list to play 16 games at half-back.

His season was cut short when he contracted osteitis pubis, playing his last game against Essendon in round 21.

Saad, 21, has begun working with new Suns fitness boss Justin Cordy following recovery from that injury and hip surgery he had at the same time.

"I started running today - it was my first session since the Essendon game, so slowly, slowly building up," Saad told goldcoast.com.au.

"I'm going to start riding the bike a bit more, up the mountains, and keep off my legs."

Saad said there was no fixed date on a return to the main squad, but expected it to be "in a couple of weeks.

"Now that I've got a taste of AFL footy, you've got to work even harder to play games next year because we're going to have a full-strength side," he said.

"I want to get as fit as I can and gain another three or four kilos in the gym."