INJURY-RIDDLED Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O'Meara has been named to make his return through the VFL against Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday afternoon.

O'Meara, 23, has played four games this season after crossing over from Gold Coast.

Bone stress in his right knee, related to O'Meara's previous problems, has kept the star midfielder on the sidelines since the round six loss to St Kilda.

He has been named on the wing and will don the No.80 for Box Hill in his return game.

The 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star winner has been plagued by knee injuries since the end of 2014 – his second year in the League. He went to London to have both knees operated on for tendinitis and ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee in April 2015.

He missed the entire 2016 season before he was traded to Hawthorn.