Clever way to mend a net (4)

I believe the answer is:

neat

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'clever' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'mend a net' is the wordplay.
'mend' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'mended' mean this).
'a'+'net'='anet'
'anet' is an anagram of 'NEAT'.

'way to' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for neat that I've seen before include "Old cattle" , "Tidy and spruce" , "without water being added" , "Drink with no water added" , "Trim - tidy - without water" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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