Be sought after as a young player (4)
I believe the answer is:
hide
'be' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both substances as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sought after as a young player' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'player' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'hid' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hide that I've seen before include "Bury" , "Keep secret, skin" , "Fell" , "Shelter" , "Conceal, veil" .)