Crossword Genius

A case is to be made for a colleague (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

associate

'a colleague' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'a case is to be made' is the wordplay.
'be made' indicates an anagram.
'case'+'is'+'to'='caseisto'
'caseisto' is an anagram of 'ssociate'.
'a'+'ssociate'='ASSOCIATE'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for associate that I've seen before include "Consort" , "Connect; partner" , "Partner, companion" , "Get together with" , "friend?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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