A drink to help in recuperation (3)
I believe the answer is:
cup
'a drink' is the definition.
(a cup of drink)
'in recuperation?' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'CUP' can be found hidden inside 'recuperation'.
'to help' is the link.
(Other definitions for cup that I've seen before include "Chalice; trophy" , "Prize; vessel" , "Award; mug" , "McCarthy, Walker or Maguire" , "competition" .)