Hired thug (4)
I believe the answer is:
goon
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">hired thug</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for goon that I've seen before include "person making fool of himself" , "Silly person - bully (US)" , "Sellers for example" , "someone rather stupid" , "SPIKE] ?" .)