ST KILDA needs a spark, and can turn to Nathan Freeman to find it.

The Saints haven't won a game since round one, their coach Alan Richardson is under increasing scrutiny, their skill level is not good enough and perhaps their best young player, Jack Billings, was dropped to the VFL last week.

The club needs a lift, and Freeman making his long-awaited and (so far) elusive debut could be the tonic as they travel to play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. Freeman won't change everything but he could change the mood, itself an important intangible in the midst of a horror season.

The former Collingwood top-10 draftee's shocking injury run is well documented: he is yet to play at senior level after a string of hamstring injuries that have sent him around the world for treatment.

He left the Pies at the end of 2015 and hoped for a change of luck at St Kilda, who gave away a second-round draft choice, as well as a swap of later picks, for the midfielder.

That hasn't ensued, although he returned from his most recent hamstring troubles earlier this season with some excellent showings at VFL level that thrust his name closer to senior selection.

Then another setback struck, with Freeman missing three weeks with a shoulder injury. He avoided surgery – at least until the end of this season – before returning to the VFL last weekend and gathering 28 disposals for Sandringham.

Richardson admitted last week there had been a temptation to give the out-of-contract Freeman a senior debut as soon as he was fit, but added "the last thing you want to do is put someone in when they're not ready".

That's fair, and the Saints would have Freeman's best interests at heart. There are still gains he has to make in his game, particularly defensively, and the club will want him to be in the best possible position and condition to perform at the top level once his time comes.

But things can't get much worse for St Kilda, and his debut would not only be deserved but would bring a smile to all at Moorabbin.

Freeman, who turns 23 this week, is a popular personality who has handled his injury adversity remarkably well and without losing his upbeat outlook. After all, it is edging five years since Freeman was drafted seven picks behind Billings, who has played 75 games across his career.

He was picked as an explosive on-baller who was damaging around the ball and able to burst away at top speed. Injuries have wound back that natural speed, but Freeman has shown at VFL level he can still win the ball consistently.

St Kilda has been criticised before for playing it safe at the selection table, so to pick Freeman against the Suns, which shapes as a must-win game given the parlous state of the Suns, might be something of a leap. But it is one worth taking sooner rather than later.