Norwegian playmaker starts for Ipswich, bags three points (5)
I believe the answer is:
ibsen
'norwegian' is the definition.
(I have seen 'famous Norwegian' mean 'ibsen' so perhaps 'norwegian' could also mean 'ibsen')
'ipswich bags three points' is the wordplay.
'three points' can mean three substitutions for 'point'.
'point' suggests taking the first letters (an end or point of the word).
'point' becomes 'se' (SE is an example).
'point' becomes 'n' (North).
The first letters of 'ipswich bags' is 'ib'.
'ib'+'se'+'n'='IBSEN'
'playmaker starts for' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ibsen that I've seen before include "famous Norwegian" , ""Doll's House" dramatist" , "foreign author" , "Scandinavian playwright" , "See 7 Down" .)