Clock face placed back (4)
I believe the answer is:
dial
'clock face' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'placed back' is the wordplay.
'placed' becomes 'laid' (laying is a kind of placing).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'laid' in reverse letter order is 'DIAL'.
(Other definitions for dial that I've seen before include "Calibrated face" , "Meter face" , "Calibrated disc etc" , "Watch face" , "Ring the clock-face" .)